Rourkela: On charges of demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹26,000 from a truck owner to process Fresh Registration Certificates (FRC), the Odisha Vigilance has apprehended a dealing clerk-cum-night watcher and an IT executive of the RTO office in Rourkela.

The accused have been identified as Niranjan Sandha, dealing clerk-cum-night watcher, and Dharmendra Kumar Behera, IT executive, of the RTO office. They were caught while accepting the bribe from the complainant.

According to Vigilance sources, the accused had demanded ₹26,000—₹13,000 per vehicle—for processing the FRC applications of two trucks recently purchased in an auction conducted by IndusInd Bank. Notably, the bank had seized and auctioned the vehicles after the previous owner defaulted on loan repayment.

As per Transport Department rules, the new owner is required to apply for FRC for auctioned vehicles. The complainant had submitted the applications at the RTO office, but despite repeated requests, the dealing clerk allegedly delayed the process and demanded a bribe.

Left with no alternative, the truck owner approached Vigilance authorities. Acting on the complaint, a trap was laid, and both accused were caught red-handed while accepting the bribe. The entire amount of ₹26,000 was recovered and seized.

Officials said simultaneous searches are underway at three locations linked to Sandha to unearth assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

In this connection, a case has been registered at Rourkela Vigilance Police Station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, dated August 5, 2026.

Further investigation into the case is in progress.