Nabarangpur’s Kosagumuda forester Amit Kumar Das was arrested by the Vigilancepolice while demanding and accepting bribe on Monday. Das demanded Rs 10,000 from one Debendra Patra of Kosagumuda to submit a report to the senior Forest Officer to facilitate release of a seized tractor.
Forester Das had seized the tractor and registered a forest offence case in the name of driver Ratan Bindhani and his brother Dambaru Bindhani and forwarded them in judicial custody. After their release on bail, complainant Patra, whose wife is the owner of the tractor, went to Kodinga Forest Range office and requested Das to submit the report to the senior Forest Officer to facilitate release of the seized tractor. On this, Das demanded Rs 10,000. Finding no other option, Patra reported the matter to SP Vigilance, Koraput.