Odisha Vigilance officials have apprehended Ashok Kumar Das, a Junior Engineer (JE) from Basudevpur Block, Bhadrak district, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a contractor.
The bribe was reportedly sought in exchange for clearing payments related to executed works.
According to official sources, Das refused to release the bill amount unless he was paid the demanded bribe. Vigilance officers laid a trap and successfully recovered the full amount from his possession. Following the arrest, simultaneous searches are underway at four locations linked to Das to investigate any possible disproportionate assets (DA).
A case has been registered under Balasore Vigilance PS Case No. 4/2025, under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected as officials continue their inquiries.
This incident marks another effort by Odisha Vigilance to root out corruption and ensure transparency in government transactions. The department has urged contractors and officials to report any demands for illegal gratification to facilitate stricter action against erring officials.
