11-07-2025
Former panchayat staffer gets 3-yr jail term in DA case
Keonjhar: The special vigilance court in Keonjhar on Friday sentenced Mitrajit Barik, a former gram panchayat technical assistant (GPTA) of Champua block, to three years of rigorous imprisonment in a disproportionate assets case.
Judge Bhagaban Pradhan also imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 on Barik. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional three months of imprisonment.
Special public prosecutor Debadutta Biswal said Barik was charged by the vigilance in 2012 under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Barik was caught while accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 from a contractor to facilitate the preparation of the final bill for a road project. Following the trap, vigilance conducted searches at Barik's office and residences, uncovering assets that were disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Registration of a DA case resulted in Barik's disengagement from service after the department concerned received a report from the competent authority.
