In a major crackdown on corruption in recruitment, Odisha Vigilance on Sunday arrested Sushila Sabar, Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) of Bisamcuttack, and Rama Chandra Patra, Clerk-cum-Accountant, for allegedly demanding and accepting ₹80,000 in bribe for issuing an appointment letter to a Dongaria Kandha tribal woman selected for the post of Anganwadi Worker.
According to official sources, the woman had applied for the Anganwadi Worker post in her village nearly a month ago. On June 20, she visited the CDPO’s office to enquire about the status of her appointment, during which she was allegedly told to pay ₹1 lakh in bribe to receive her offer letter. Patra reportedly accepted ₹20,000 via a PhonePe UPI transaction as the first instalment the same day. The remaining ₹80,000 was to be paid on June 23.
Distressed by the bribe demand, the tribal woman alerted the Vigilance Department. Based on her complaint, a trap was laid. Both officials were caught red-handed while receiving the final instalment. The entire amount was recovered in the presence of independent witnesses and seized. Subsequently, the residences of both accused at Tumbiguda, Rayagada, were searched.
A case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, has been registered at the Koraput Vigilance Police Station. Further investigation is underway.
Notably, Patra has a prior corruption case pending from 2014 during his tenure as Nazir in the Rayagada Tahasil office, involving misappropriation of government funds using forged documents. That case is currently sub judice before the Special Judge, Vigilance, Jeypore.
The arrest highlights ongoing efforts by Vigilance authorities to maintain transparency and accountability, especially in tribal-dominated and marginalised areas.
