The Special Judge, Vigilance, Sundargarh, convicted a retired headmistress of Sundargarh district and sentenced her to one year of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on her on Monday.
In default of payment of fine, she would undergo further rigorous imprisonment of two months for the offence. The Judge also sentenced her to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of six months and pay fine of Rs 3,000 and in default of payment of fine, to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for a period of 1 month. Both the sentences are to run concurrently.
According to sources, Laxmipriya Mahanta (66), while working as Headmistress of Upper Primary School at K Balang under Bonai sub division in Sundargarh district, had been nabbed red-handed in the case in 2006. Santosini Patra of K Balang village had complained against her for demanding a bribe of Rs 300 to issue school leaving certificate of her son Manoj Kumar Patra, a class VIII student of the K Balang UP School.
Odisha Vigilance will now move the competent authority for stoppage of pension of retired headmistress Mahanta following her conviction. Special Judge, Vigilance, Sundargarh, Rajalaxmi Pattnaik awarded the punishment examining evidences and witnesses.
