In a swift operation, Odisha Vigilance apprehended Sagar Chandra Palai, a Gaon Sathi (mate) from Balipatna, Bhubaneswar, on Thursday for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 15,000.
The incident unfolded when Palai, tasked with facilitating payments under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), allegedly coerced a beneficiary to pay a bribe to release the final instalment for pond excavation work completed on the complainant’s land.
The complainant, frustrated by Palai’s persistent demands despite the work being finalised, alerted Vigilance authorities. Acting on the tip-off, a team laid a trap and caught Palai red-handed while accepting the bribe amount. The entire Rs. 15,000 was recovered from his possession and seized as evidence.
Following the arrest, Vigilance officials initiated a search at one location linked to Palai to probe potential disproportionate assets, indicating a deeper investigation into his financial dealings.
A case has been registered under Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station (Case No. 14/2025), charging Palai under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. The investigation is ongoing to uncover further details.
