Bhubaneswar: A Vigilance court in Odisha's Balangir district today convicted two former officials of the Forest Department in a bribery case.

The Special Vigilance Court, Balangir, convicted Pranab Kumar Mohanty, the former DFO (Kendu Leaf) of Patnagarh Division, and Chittaranjan Dehury, the former Deputy Range Officer (Kendu Leaf) of Ghasian South Range at Patnagarh in the bribery case.

The Odisha Vigilance had earlier filed chargesheet against the two officials for demanding and receiving Rs 1.66 lakh as bribe from a Range Officer of Patnagarh Range in Balangir for release of funds towards repair and maintenance of Kendu Leaf godowns.

The Vigilance Department had filed the chargesheet against the duo under Sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.

The Special Vigilance Court has sentenced the duo to three years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) in the bribery case. The court also slapped penalties on the convicts.

“The Odisha Vigilance will move the competent authority for stoppage of the pensions of the two former officials of the Forest Department following their conviction in the bribery case,” said an official.