Vigilance sleuths on Monday arrested Nuapada District labour Officer Panchanana Mallik for taking bribe of Rs 15,000 from Basudev Dharua, secretary of the local Pragatisila Shramika Sangha.
The DlO had demanded a bribe of Rs 35, 000 from Dharua for registration of 372 labourers with the labour office to get benefits under the Building and Other Construction Worker (RE&CS) Act. Dharua, however convinced the DlO to take Rs 15,000. later, a trap was laid and the DlO was caught red-handed.
However, the DlO said he has been trapped illegally. “I had not asked for any money. When I returned from Sinapali after attending the Collector’s grievance, I saw Dharua placing the money on the table. I was caught by the vigilance when I was handing it over back to Dharua”, Mallik said.