Balangir: A forest range officer under Boudh forest division was caught on camera while asking for bribe from ganja peddlers in a forest in Boudh district.

Forest range officer of Kantamal range Rabinarayan Sahu was filmed secretly when he was cutting a deal with the ganja peddlers in Matakrupa reserve forest under Kantamal range of Boudh forest division.

The officer is seen demanding a bribe of Rs 35,000 in the video, which has gone viral on the social media over the past few days. The divisional forest officer of Boudh has initiated an inquiry into the allegations.

In the video, the officer arrives at a place atop the reserve forest where some local residents were packing ganja for smuggling. The officer asked them to pay a bribe or get ready to go to jail.

He said they must give him the money or face the consequences. The ganja peddlers looked reluctant to pay the amount.

At the last the deal was settled for Rs 20,000.

Sahu denied the allegation and said: "I had gone there to maintain fire line in the forest and I saw some people were doing something at a distance. I didn't ask them for money. This is baseless."