Odisha Vigilance arrested a Begunia Tahasil staffer for accepting a bribe of Rs 8,000 from a land conversion applicant.
On 15 October 2025, Smt. Smruti Jayashree, Data Entry Operator (DEO) at the office of Tahasildar, Begunia, Khordha district, demanded Rs 8,000 from a complainant to process an online application for converting agricultural land to non-agricultural use. The applicant had submitted the request on 1 September 2025, following government procedures.
Instead of initiating the file online, the DEO insisted on payment to move the process forward. The complainant, unwilling to pay the bribe, alerted Odisha Vigilance. Acting on the complaint, a vigilance team caught Smruti Jayashree red-handed while accepting the bribe amount.
Officials recovered the tainted money from her possession. Following the arrest, simultaneous searches began at two locations linked to the accused to investigate disproportionate assets.
Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station registered Case No. 23 dated 14.10.2025 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. The investigation continues to uncover further details.
Odisha Vigilance reiterated its commitment to curbing corruption in public services, especially in sensitive areas like land conversion. The incident highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in digital governance.
ALSO READ: Diwali 2025 Date Confusion Resolved: Oct 20 Declared by Mukti Pandit Mahasabha
