Boudh Excise Officer Gets 2-Year Jail Term for Rs 10K Bribe | Odisha Vigilance Crackdown

In a significant crackdown on corruption, Rabindra Nath Pradhan, Officer-in-Charge of the Excise Department in Harabhanga, Boudh district, has been sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000.

The incident dates back to Pradhan’s tenure at the Deogarh Excise Department, where he was caught red-handed by the Vigilance Department while allegedly accepting a bribe to settle a case.

Following a thorough investigation, the Sambalpur Vigilance Court pronounced its verdict on September 26, 2025, convicting Pradhan under multiple sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The court also ordered his immediate suspension from government service.

The Vigilance Department reaffirmed its commitment to rooting out corruption from public institutions, stating that such convictions serve as a deterrent and reinforce the principles of transparency and accountability in governance.

The case has sparked widespread discussion across Odisha, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and ethical conduct in public service.