The Odisha Vigilance on Friday apprehended Miss Manisha Mishra, an Odisha Revenue Service (ORS) officer and the Sub-Registrar of Baliapal in Baleshwar district, while she was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 7,000.
The high-profile trap unfolds against a backdrop of administrative red tape and bureaucratic harassment. According to vigilance reports, a local vendor had approached the sub-registrar’s office to complete the registration of a sale deed for a plot measuring Ac.0.14 decimal, categorised as “Bajyapti Stithiban” land.
Guidelines Ignored, Demands Made
Under clear-cut guidelines and provisions issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management (R&DM) Department, land of this specific classification is legally required to be treated as Stithiban and is fully eligible for registration. Despite the complainant repeatedly presenting these official norms and requesting compliance, the accused officer allegedly paid no heed.
Instead of fulfilling her statutory duty, Miss Mishra reportedly demanded a gratification of Rs 10,000 to process the transaction. When the distressed complainant expressed financial inability to pay the steep amount, the sub-registrar condescendingly negotiated the bribe down to Rs 7,000.
The Vigilance Trap
Unwilling to bow to illegal extortion, the aggrieved citizen formally approached the Odisha Vigilance authorities. Acting swiftly on the complaint, a specialised vigilance team laid a trap.
On Friday, November 6, 2026, the team successfully caught Miss Mishra red-handed while she was demanding and accepting the tainted cash from the complainant. The entire bribe amount of Rs 7,000 was recovered from her possession and promptly seized by investigators.
Ongoing Investigation and Raids
Following the successful trap, simultaneous searches are underway at two locations linked to the accused officer from a Disproportionate Assets (DA) angle to uncover any further irregularities.
A formal case has been registered at the Baleshwar Vigilance Police Station (Case No. 26/2026) under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Investigators note that Miss Mishra joined civil services in 2024 and was still serving her probation period when the arrest took place. Further investigation into the matter is actively ongoing.
