Vigilance Nabs Kandhamal Headmaster for Rs 4,000 Digital Bribe
In a decisive move against corruption in Odisha’s education sector, the Vigilance Department on October 31 apprehended Kumarmani Mallick, the in-charge Headmaster of Budaguda Government Girls’ High School in Kandhamal district, for accepting a bribe of Rs 4,000 via PhonePe.
The bribe was allegedly demanded from a female staffer to regularise her two-month absence and facilitate the release of her pending salary.
Acting on her complaint, Vigilance officials laid a digital trap and caught Mallick red-handed while receiving the payment.
Officials confirmed that Mallick had refused to process the salary unless the amount was paid, coercing the staffer into marking her absent days as “regular” in exchange for the bribe.
Upon receiving the digital transfer, sleuths seized Mallick’s mobile phone and initiated search operations at three locations linked to him, including his residence and office.
The case has been registered under Berhampur Vigilance PS Case No. 16 dated October 31, 2025, under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
A disproportionate assets probe is underway to determine if Mallick amassed wealth beyond his known sources of income.
This incident underscores the evolving nature of corruption, now extending into digital payment platforms, and reinforces the need for robust oversight in public institutions.
