Odisha Vigilance today apprehended Sarita Barik, Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, Bhubaneswar-IV Circle, while accepting a bribe of Rs 25,000 from a bakery shop owner.
The sting operation unfolded in front of an institute in Madhusudan Nagar, Bhubaneswar, where Barik was caught red-handed inside her car, accepting the bribe money.
The incident stems from a show-cause notice issued by Barik to the complainant, a food products firm owner, demanding a payment of Rs 2,27,147 towards the reversal of Input Tax Credit (ITC) for the financial year 2020-21, along with fines and penalties.
When the complainant approached Barik to seek leniency, she allegedly demanded Rs 25,000 to waive the fine and penalty. Unwilling to comply with the corrupt demand, the bakery owner reported the matter to Odisha Vigilance.
Acting swiftly, Vigilance officers laid a trap and caught Barik in the act of accepting the bribe. The entire sum of Rs 25,000 was recovered and seized from her possession. Following the arrest, simultaneous searches are underway at three locations linked to Barik to investigate potential disproportionate assets.
A case has been registered against her under Bhubaneswar Vigilance P.S. Case No. 18, dated 26.08.2025, under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
