By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:Today i.e on 18.06.2026, a short while ago, Rakesh Kumar Panda, Forester, Ankui under Delang Range,.Dist-Puri, has been apprehended by Odisha Vigilance *while demanding and taking a bribe of Rs. 25,000/- from a tractor owner in order to allow his tractor to pass through a forest road carrying excavated earth to be dumped on his field*. The accused Forester had earlier threatened that the vehicle would be seized if it was found using the forest road without prior permission. However, the accused forester Sri Panda demanded bribe Rs.25,000/- from the tractor owner to allow him to use the forest road.
Finding no other means, the complt ( tractor owner) reported the matter to vigilance authorities. Following this, a team of Odisha Vigilance, nabbed Sri Panda, Forester, today while taking bribe Rs.25,000/- from the complt. The entire tainted bribe money Rs.25,000/- has been recovered from the possession of accused Sri Panda and seized.
Following the trap, simultaneous searches are going on at two locations connected to Sri Panda, Forester from DA angle.
In this connection, Bhubaneswar Vigilance P.S. Case No. 11 dtd. 17.06.2026 u/s 7 P.C (Amendment) Act, 2018 has been registered. Investigation is in progress against the accused Sri Panda, Forester. Detailed report follows.
