In a swift operation, the Vigilance Department caught Prasanna Kumar Pattnaik, Executive Engineer of the Rural Works Department in Rayagada district, while allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹2 lakh from a contractor.
According to reports, a contractor Sanyasi Subudhi had earlier lodged a complaint with the Vigilance Department stating that the Executive Engineer was demanding a bribe to clear his pending bills. Acting on the complaint, the Vigilance team laid a trap by applying a chemical marker to the bribe money provided by the complainant.
On Tuesday night, at around 9 PM, Subudhi visited the official residence of the Executive Engineer and handed over the ₹2 lakh. Immediately after the transaction, the Vigilance team conducted a raid on the premises and seized the marked cash.
The bribe was reportedly demanded in exchange for processing and clearing the contractor’s work bills.
The operation was led by Rayagada DSP Suryakanti Takri along with other Vigilance officials.
Further investigation into the case is underway.
