In a swift operation, Odisha Vigilance apprehended Sukanta Kumar Singh, a Junior Clerk at the Office of the Sub-Registrar in Balipatna, Khordha district, along with his associate, Mahendra Sahu, a private individual, on Wednesday.
The duo was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs. 2,500, the second instalment of a total demand of Rs. 5,000, from a complainant, a functionary of a Trust Board, in exchange for releasing a registered trust deed.
The incident unfolded after Singh had previously collected Rs. 1,500 from the complainant on July 11, 2025, and continued to demand the remaining amount to hand over the deed. Frustrated by the extortion, the complainant alerted the Odisha Vigilance authorities, who orchestrated a meticulously planned trap. The operation culminated in the arrest of Singh and Sahu as they accepted the bribe money, which was subsequently recovered and seized by the authorities.
Following the sting, Vigilance officials initiated searches at two locations linked to Singh to investigate potential disproportionate assets (DA), signalling a deeper probe into possible financial irregularities.
A case has been registered at Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station (P.S. Case No. 15, dated July 15, 2025) under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. The investigation against Singh and Sahu is ongoing, with authorities promising a thorough examination of the case.
This incident underscores Odisha Vigilance’s commitment to rooting out corruption within public offices, sending a strong message to officials engaging in illicit practices. As the investigation progresses, more details are expected to shed light on the extent of the duo’s activities and any potential broader network of corruption.
