Odisha Vigilance apprehended Suryakanti Pandey, Sarpanch of Nimna Gram Panchayat under Ullunda block in Subarnapur district, while she accepted a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a Self Help Group (SHG) functionary on Sunday.
Officials confirmed that Pandey demanded money to sign agreement papers for pisciculture in the GP tank and to facilitate release of subsidy from the District Fisheries Office. The SHG had leased the tank for five years. Initially, Pandey demanded ₹40,000 but later reduced the amount to ₹20,000 after negotiation.
Finding no alternative, the SHG functionary approached Vigilance authorities. Acting on the complaint, a team of officers laid a trap and caught Pandey red-handed while receiving the bribe. The tainted money was recovered from her possession and seized as evidence.
Following the arrest, simultaneous searches began at two locations linked to Pandey to investigate disproportionate assets. Vigilance registered Sambalpur Vigilance PS Case No. 10 dated 04.07.2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
Investigators stated that the probe will cover both the bribery incident and Pandey’s financial records.
