In a swift and decisive anti-corruption operation, the Odisha Vigilance Department today caught Prafulla Haldar, Livestock Inspector of Raighar under the Chief District Veterinary Officer (CDVO), Nabarangpur, while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 80,000 from a dairy farmer.
The bribe was demanded in exchange for releasing the subsidy amount under the Mukhyamantri Kamdhenu Yojana — the state’s flagship scheme that helps dairy farmers set up units with 1 to 5 cows.
According to the complaint, the farmer had already been selected as a genuine beneficiary under the scheme. However, Haldar allegedly demanded Rs 80,000 to process the release and threatened to block the subsidy not only for the complainant but also for other beneficiaries from the same village if the bribe was not paid.
Left with no other option, the farmer approached Odisha Vigilance. A trap was laid, and today the vigilance team nabbed Haldar red-handed while he was taking the bribe money from the complainant.
The entire amount of Rs 80,000 has been recovered from Haldar’s possession and seized as evidence. Simultaneous searches are currently underway at two locations linked to the accused from the disproportionate assets angle.
In connection with the incident, the Koraput Vigilance Police Station has registered Case No. 13/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Investigation is in progress.
Following trap of Haldar, simultaneous searches have been launched at locations linked to him. During searches, a cash of Rs. 8.24 Lakhs was unearthed so far from his residential house at Raigarh and seized.
