BDA Town Planner Jailed for Bribery: Odisha Vigilance Secures 3-Year Conviction

Bhubaneswar, August 29: In a decisive move against corruption in public service, the Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar, has sentenced Kushal Chandra Chatterjee, a former Junior Town Planner with the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), to three years of rigorous imprisonment for accepting a bribe.

Chatterjee, an outsourced employee at BDA, was found guilty under Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(d)/7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The conviction followed a complaint filed by a citizen alleging that Chatterjee demanded illegal gratification to approve a residential building plan.

The Odisha Vigilance Department launched a swift investigation, leading to Chatterjee’s arrest and subsequent charge-sheeting. The court also imposed a monetary fine, reinforcing the state’s commitment to transparency and ethical governance.

This verdict sends a strong message about the consequences of abusing public office and underscores the importance of vigilance in urban planning and development.