A Revenue Inspector, Janaki Ranjan Mallik, posted at Kakhadi circle in Cuttack district, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a landowner. The bribe was sought in exchange for submitting a favourable report on a land mutation application filed online by the complainant for the issuance of a land rights certificate.
According to officials, the inspector scheduled a hearing for January 27 but asked the landowner to meet him on January 20. During the meeting, he demanded Rs 10,000, which the landowner was unable to pay. The landowner then reported the matter to the Vigilance department, leading to a trap operation in which the inspector was arrested and the bribe money seized.
Further searches are underway at three locations linked to the accused, and a case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
