Bhubaneswar, 16 April (H.S.): In a corruption case, former District Labour Officer (DLO) of Nuapada, Sarat Kumar Panigrahi, has been convicted and sentenced to three years of simple imprisonment by a vigilance court.

According to official sources, the verdict was delivered on April 16, 2026, by the Hon’ble Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhawanipatna. The court also imposed a fine of ₹80,000 on the convicted retired official.

Panigrahi, who served as District Labour Officer at Khariar Road in Nuapada district, was charge-sheeted by Odisha Vigilance in connection with Koraput Vigilance Police Station Case No. 3 dated January 7, 2021. He was booked under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.

The case pertained to allegations that he had demanded and accepted a bribe of ₹40,000 from a trainer for facilitating the registration of 200 labourers.

Following the conviction, vigilance authorities stated that steps will be taken to initiate proceedings for stoppage of pension benefits of the retired officer, subject to approval from the competent authority.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda