Former Medical Officer Gets 2-Yr Jail Term For Taking Bribe In Odisha 

Cuttack: A Vigilance Court here convicted Dr. Karunakar Rout, the former Medical Officer of Madhuban CHC in Jajpur district, in connection with a bribery case. The court sentenced him to undergo 2 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI).

Dr. Karunakar Rout, who previously served as the Medical Officer at Madhuban CHC in Jajpur district, was charged by Odisha Vigilance in a case documented under Spl. Judge, Vigilance, Cuttack TR No.30/2014 U/s 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d)/7 P.C. Act,1988. The charges were related to his alleged demand and acceptance of a bribe from a contractual health worker. The bribe was purportedly in exchange for not taking action against the health worker for being absent during MDA supervision by the state team.

The Special Judge, Vigilance, Cuttack, found Dr. Rout guilty and handed down a sentence of rigorous imprisonment for 2 years. Additionally, the court ordered him to pay a fine of Rs.10,000. In case of default in payment, the convict is liable to undergo an additional 6 months of rigorous imprisonment under U/s 13(2)/7 P.C. Act, 1988, as per the court’s ruling.

Dr. Karunakar Rout is currently serving as a medical officer at Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital. Odisha Vigilance intends to seek the dismissal of Dr. Rout from service following his conviction.

Bharat Chandra Sethy, a former DSP in Vigilance, Cuttack Division, conducted the investigation into the case. Sarbeswar Barik, Special Public Prosecutor, and Deepak Kumar Swain, Assistant Public Prosecutor, both representing Vigilance, Cuttack, jointly handled the case on behalf of the prosecution.