Bhadrak DEO office junior assistant caught taking Rs 10,000 bribe

A junior assistant working in the office of the District Education Officer (DEO) in Bhadrak was nabbed by OdishaVigilance while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a private school functionary. The accused has been identified as Srikanta Kumar Dash.

According to Vigilance officials, Dash had allegedly demanded the money for processing a file related to the issuance of a recognition certificate for a private school in Bhadrak district. After receiving a complaint, Vigilance officials laid a trap and caught him while he was accepting the bribe amount.

School Functionary Approached Vigilance

Sources said the school official had been pursuing the matter for the issuance of the recognition certificate. However, Dash allegedly demanded Rs 10,000 to move the file and complete the process.

Despite repeated requests from the complainant, the accused allegedly refused to process the file without receiving the money. Finding no other way to get the work done, the school representative approached Odisha Vigilance and lodged a complaint.

Acting on the complaint, a Vigilance team kept watch and conducted a trap operation on Friday. Dash was apprehended while allegedly taking the bribe amount from the complainant.

Bribe Money Seized

Vigilance officials recovered the entire Rs 10,000 from the possession of the accused and seized the cash as evidence.

Officials also carried out verification of documents connected to the case immediately after the trap. The accused was questioned by Vigilance officers following his detention.

Searches At Multiple Locations

Following the arrest, simultaneous searches were launched at two locations linked to Srikanta Kumar Dash to examine his assets and financial records.

The searches are being carried out from the disproportionate assets angle, officials said. Vigilance teams are examining documents and other records recovered during the raids.

A case has been registered at Balasore Vigilance Police Station under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and further investigation is underway.