Cuttack, July 7(OT Webdesk): A medical officer from Kujang Community Health Centre (CHC), Dr. Siba Prasad Sethi, was apprehended by Odisha Vigilance on Sunday night while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 at his private clinic in Cuttack.
The bribe was reportedly demanded to expedite a favourable post-mortem report for a deceased woman, aiding her husband’s insurance claim.
The sting operation followed a complaint lodged by the deceased’s husband, who alleged that Dr. Sethi sought money to bypass procedural delays.
As the woman’s death occurred within seven years of marriage—prompting stricter medico-legal scrutiny—the bribe was allegedly demanded to ensure the report posed no hurdle to claim settlement.
Vigilance officials caught Dr. Sethi red-handed around 9 PM, along with his receptionist, Surya Narayan Choudhury, who was also involved in the transaction. The entire bribe amount was recovered during the operation.
Subsequently, simultaneous searches were launched at five premises linked to Dr. Sethi to unearth disproportionate assets.
Officials confirmed that a case has been registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. The investigation is ongoing.
Authorities are now probing the depth of the alleged corruption trail, while the public awaits clarity on whether more officials might be implicated in the misconduct.
