Sambalpur: The Odisha Vigilance sleuths apprehended Subha Prakash Soren, Block Veterinary Officer (BVO), and Maheswar Sahu, Programme Assistant (PA), for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000.
The accused duo was caught red-handed while taking the bribe amount from a beneficiary who had approached the Vigilance authorities after being repeatedly asked for illegal gratification. The bribe was demanded for releasing the second phase of subsidy amounting to Rs 54,000 under the Go-Sugam scheme of the Government of Odisha for setting up a broiler farm.
The complainant, a beneficiary under the scheme, had already constructed the broiler farm in April 2025 and was eligible for a total subsidy of Rs 90,000. Despite repeated requests, Soren allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 5,000 to release the second phase of the subsidy.
The complainant reported the matter to Vigilance authorities over the toll-free number 1064. Based on the complaint, the Vigilance authorities laid a trap and caught the accused persons while they were accepting the bribe. The entire bribe amount of Rs 5,000 has been recovered and seized from their possession.
A case has been registered against the accused persons under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and an investigation is currently underway. Simultaneous searches are being conducted at two locations associated with Soren from a disproportionate assets angle.
