Odisha Vigilance today apprehended Dhirendra Mohanty, Secretary of Mahu Co-operative Society, Aul, Kendrapara district, while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a loanee farmer.
According to official sources, the complainant and his father had been sanctioned an agricultural loan of Rs 75,000 on August 12, 2025. Despite repeated requests, Mohanty allegedly withheld the loan passbook and cheque book, demanding Rs 20,000 in bribes to release the documents. Unable to meet the demand, the farmer negotiated the amount down to Rs 10,000, which Mohanty insisted be paid by August 20 or the documents would not be handed over.
Faced with coercion and harassment, the farmer approached Vigilance authorities, who laid a trap and caught Mohanty red-handed at his office while accepting the bribe. The entire tainted amount has been recovered and seized.
Simultaneous searches are underway at two locations linked to Mohanty to investigate disproportionate assets. A case has been registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, at Cuttack Vigilance Police Station (Case No. 23 dated 19.08.2025). Further investigation is in progress.
