Odisha Vigilance Cracks Down on Corruption: Three Officials Arrested in Statewide Raids
In a sweeping anti-corruption operation, Odisha Vigilance arrested three government officials across Sambalpur, Nayagarh, and Mayurbhanj districts on charges ranging from bribery to embezzlement.
In Sambalpur, Tahasildar Aswini Kumar Panda was caught red-handed accepting Rs 15,000 to facilitate land mutation. His office driver, P. Praveen Kumar, allegedly acted as a middleman. The bribe money was recovered, and searches are underway at multiple locations linked to Panda.
Meanwhile, in Nayagarh, District Labour Officer Chittaranjan Rout was apprehended for demanding Rs 6,000 to issue labour cards to 20 impoverished workers. The complainant had faced nearly a year of delay due to Rout’s extortion. Rout was already under scrutiny for similar misconduct.
In Mayurbhanj, former Panchayat Executive Officer Puspita Mahakud was arrested for embezzling Rs 5.68 lakh meant for old age pensions. Currently posted at the Sub-Collector’s office in Rairangpur, Mahakud is under investigation as authorities work to trace the misappropriated funds.
These arrests underscore Odisha Vigilance’s intensified efforts to restore transparency and accountability in public service.
