Cuttack: Vigilance courts across the state have registered 15 convictions within 45 days following trial of public servants in corruption cases.

Among those convicted since January 12 include a high school headmistress, a geologist, a police officer, block development officers and executive officers of urban and rural local bodies.

The sentences awarded ranged from one year to three years and fines slapped ranged from Rs 1,000 to Rs 50,000 for convictions in cases of illegal gratification, misappropriation and possession of properties disproportionate to known sources of income.

On February 5, the vigilance court in Bhubaneswar convicted geologist Nirakar Rout and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for two years while also imposing on him a fine of Rs 50,000 in a disproportionate assets cases which was registered against him nearly 22 years ago. Rout, who was then superintending geologist in-charge, Ground Water Remote Sensing Division, Bhubaneswar, has already retired.

On February 23, the vigilance court at Baripada convicted Pramila Marandi and sentenced her to one-year's imprisonment while also imposing on her a fine of Rs 1,000 in a bribe case registered six years ago. Pramila was the headmistress of Bisoi Girls High School, Mayurbhanj, when she was caught red handed demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 3,000 to change the permanent address of a student in school records.

In another conviction, the vigilance court at Bhawanipatna convicted Sunil Kumar Sahu, a retired block development officer of Sinapali block in Nuapada district, and sentenced him to two-years' rigorous imprisonment in a misappropriation case registered nearly eight years ago.

Similarly, Gadadhar Sethy, an assistant sub-inspector of police at Balasore, was also sentenced to two years' rigorous imprisonment on January 12 following conviction in a bribe case. In another bribe case registered more than nine years ago, the vigilance court of Sambalpur convicted Nabin Seth, former executive officer of Bargarh Municipality, and sentenced him to one-year's rigorous imprisonment and January 25. Seth was caught taking a bribe of Rs 2,500