Jagatsinghpur, June 26, (OT Webdesk): Odisha Vigilance officials apprehended Suryakanta Swain, an accountant with the Block Education Office (BEO) in Kujanga, after he was caught red-handed accepting a Rs 5,000 bribe from a local school teacher.
According to sources, the bribe was demanded to release a Rs 1.5 lakh house building advance that had already been sanctioned by the authorities.
Despite official approval, Swain allegedly withheld the billing process without justification and sought illicit payment for fund clearance.
Acting swiftly on the teacher’s complaint, Vigilance sleuths laid a trap and nabbed Swain at his office while he was receiving the money.
The bribe amount was seized during the operation.
Authorities also conducted simultaneous raids at two locations associated with the accused to uncover potential assets disproportionate to his known income.
The case has been registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. The investigation is currently underway.
