Odisha Vigilance apprehended a TPCODL staffer in Cuttack on Saturday while he accepted a bribe of Rs 15,000 from a farmer for replacing a damaged electric pole.
The accused, identified as Dharma Niranjan Chaudhury, Lineman-A of Narsinghpur Electrical Section, had earlier demanded Rs 25,000 for the work. On June 2, he replaced the damaged pole and collected Rs 8,000 via a UPI transaction. He then demanded the remaining Rs 17,000 but later negotiated the amount down to Rs 15,000.
The farmer, aggrieved by the demand and harassment, reported the matter to the Vigilance authorities. Acting swiftly, a team trapped Chaudhury while he accepted the Rs 15,000 bribe. Officials recovered the entire amount from his possession and seized it as evidence.
Following the trap, Vigilance launched searches at one of Chaudhury’s locations to investigate disproportionate assets. A case has been registered at Cuttack Vigilance Police Station under Case No. 22 dated June 5, 2026, U/s 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
