Rourkela: A special vigilance court in Bargarh on Thursday convicted a senior OAS officer in a 20-year-old bribery case and sentenced him to three years’ of rigorous imprisonment. Govinda Dandasena (59), former additional tehsildar of Bijepur in Bargarh district and currently executive officer of Rajgangpur municipality in Sundargarh district, was found guilty of demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 700 from a landowner in 2006 for processing a land mutation case.Special judge (Vigilance), Bargarh, convicted Dandasena under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000. In default of payment, he will have to undergo additional imprisonment as per the court’s order. According to Odisha vigilance, Dandasena demanded and accepted the bribe while serving as additional tehsildar at Bijepur. Following the conviction, vigilance said it will move the competent authority seeking his dismissal from service. Dandasena is due to retire in March 2027.The case was investigated by Abhiram Kar, former vigilance inspector of Sambalpur division. Special public prosecutors Gourmohan Dash and Rabi Narayan Bhoi jointly conducted the prosecution before the court.
