UDAYAPUR, Nov 5: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Udayapur, has arrested an assistant forest officer on the charge of taking bribe from a service seeker.
Satyanarayan Jha, assistant forest officer, at Nepaltar Subdivision Office of Division Forest Office, was caught red-handed while taking a bribe of Rs 60,000 from the service seekers. Chief District Officer (CDO) Bishnu Karki confirmed that Jha had been arrested from the premises of then Sector Forest Office in the district headquarters Gaighat.
Forest officer, peon caught red-handed with bribe of Rs 200,000
According to Karki, Jha asked for the bribe with the locals stating that the process for selling the timber kept at Ghatgaddhi by the local community forest group for distribution and sale was incomplete. As he clearly told that the process won't be forwarded until they gave the money, the service seekers decided to give the demanded money near his residence.
However, a team of CIAA reached the site as soon as Jha accepted the bribe and arrested him. According to DFO, Udayapur, the bribe money collected from the service seekers was found in Jha's pocket.
Meanwhile, discussions are being held between the representatives of District Administration Office, Police, Division Forest, and Federation of Nepalese Journalist, municipality among others for taking an appropriate action against Jha.
