Odisha Vigilance apprehended an employee, Biswamohan Pattnaik, and his associate, Md. Izaz Khan, for allegedly taking a bribe to verify documents for a Pharmacy Registration Certificate. The duo was caught accepting Rs 9,000 from an applicant through Khan for this illegal activity.
The complainant had been urging Pattnaik for a week to process the certificate but was asked for a bribe. Pattnaik directed the applicant to hand over the money to Khan in front of the Odisha Pharmacy Council Office. Following this, the complainant reported the incident to the vigilance authorities.
In response to the complaint, anti-corruption officials set up a trap and apprehended Pattnaik and Khan while they were accepting the bribe. The entire amount was recovered from the accused in the presence of witnesses. Subsequently, searches were conducted at Pattnaik’s residence and office, leading to the arrest of both individuals.
A case has been registered at the Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018.
