Sambalpur: The special vigilance judge of Balangir on Thursday convicted lady officer of Odisha Administrative Service Bijayani Biswal for accepting bribe of Rs 4,000 from a farmer while settling his irrigation dispute.

The judge sentenced Biswal to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years along with a fine of Rs 2,000.

Superintendent of police, vigilance, Swaroop Parida said that farmer Subala Karan of Dum Dumi village had a dispute with others over irrigation of his paddy field. He had approached Biswal, who was the tehsildar of Luisingha, to settle the issue. She had allegedly demanded Rs 4,000 in cash to settle the case in his favour. Karan reported the matter to the vigilance police who subsequently laid the trap. Biswal was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe amount on her office premises on May 25, 2013. A chargesheet was submitted against Biswal on March 14, 2014 and the trial started in vigilance court.

The order of judge Chintamani Panda mentioned that Biswal would have to undergo two more months' rigorous imprisonment if he failed to pay the fine. Biswal is now posted as the deputy collector in Kendrapara. Special public procecutor Umesh Mishra had appeared on behalf of the government in the case.