Odisha Vigilance arrested District Social Security Officer (DSSO) Biplab Keshari Samantaray from Keonjhar for accepting a ₹20,000 bribe through PhonePe from an NGO.
The arrest followed multiple complaints alleging that Samantaray demanded money to facilitate agreements and release grant-in-aid payments under government social security schemes.
Officials registered Vigilance Cell Division PS Case No. 11/2025 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Investigators uncovered suspicious PhonePe transactions linked to Samantaray’s account, as well as those of his family members and office staff. These digital payments are currently under verification.
Odisha Vigilance launched simultaneous searches at three locations associated with Samantaray. During the raids, authorities discovered 10 plots in and around Bhubaneswar registered in his name and that of his family. They also unearthed a three-storey building measuring approximately 3,000 square feet, a simplex house, and a three-acre farmhouse in Madanpur.
Officials confirmed that they are verifying the assets for disproportionate accumulation. Samantaray will be presented before the court today.
The arrest and property revelations have triggered public concern over corruption in welfare-linked departments. Vigilance teams continue to examine financial records and digital trails to build a comprehensive case against the DSSO.
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