Odisha Vigilance arrested Assistant Engineer Lambodhara Nayak of Kundura Block in Koraput district, moments after he accepted a Rs 20,000 bribe from a local contractor.
Nayak, responsible for overseeing road construction in the block, was caught red-handed demanding the illicit payment as a “personal clearance” fee to expedite the approval of pending bills for a road work project. The contractor approached Vigilance officials after Nayak allegedly insisted on the bribe to process the paperwork.
Acting on a tip-off, Vigilance sleuths laid a meticulously planned trap at Nayak’s office premises. As the engineer pocketed the marked currency notes, the team swooped in, recovering the entire Rs 20,000 from his possession. The cash, now key evidence, has been seized, and Nayak was immediately taken into custody.
In the hours following the arrest, simultaneous search operations were launched at Nayak’s residence and office under the Disproportionate Assets (DA) angle. Teams are scrutinising financial records, property deeds, and bank statements to uncover any unexplained wealth accumulated during his tenure. Preliminary findings suggest potential leads, though details are withheld pending further investigation.
The case has been formally registered as Koraput Vigilance Police Station Case No. 31/2025 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
