On Monday, two engineers from the Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation were arrested by vigilance officers in Bhubaneswar. This was due to an alleged case of bribery where the engineers were accused of demanding and accepting a sum of Rs 60,000 from a contractor. The reason behind this was to release the pending payments that were owed to the contractor. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the two engineers involved were assistant executive engineer Harekrushna Singh and junior engineer Subrat Mohanty. Both of them were stationed at the Udala sub-division of OLIC in Mayurbhanj district.
The arrest was made when the engineers were caught red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount in instalments. The vigilance official shared that Rs 32,000 was meant for Singh while Rs 28,000 was for the JE. The contractor in question had executed projects worth approximately Rs 25 lakh, but unfortunately, bills amounting to Rs 5 lakh along with the security deposit were being withheld. This led to the engineers demanding a bribe of Rs 1.10 lakh, which was calculated at 4.5% of the total project value, in order to release the dues.
The contractor, who was facing such harassment, decided to approach the vigilance authorities for help. As a result, the two engineers were arrested and the bribe amount was seized from their possession. This incident has raised concerns about corruption within government institutions and the need for strict measures to prevent such unlawful acts from taking place.
The Orissa Post, known as Odisha's No.1 English Daily, has been closely following this case and reporting on the latest developments. It is important for society to come together and take a stand against corruption, which ultimately affects the progress and development of our nation. The authorities must take strict action against those involved in such acts and ensure that justice is served. Let us continue to work towards a corruption-free society for the betterment of our country.
