Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance on Friday apprehended Kumarmani Mallick, in-charge Headmaster of Budaguda Government Girls’ High School in Kandhamal district, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹4,000 from a lady staff member of the same school through PhonePe.
According to a press note issued by the Vigilance, Mallick had demanded the bribe to regularise the staffer’s period of absence and facilitate the drawal of her two months’ salary. He allegedly threatened to withhold the salary unless the bribe was paid.
Finding no alternative, the complainant reported the matter to the Vigilance authorities.
Acting on the complaint, a Vigilance team laid a trap and caught Mallick red-handed while accepting ₹4,000 through a digital transaction. The mobile phone used for the transaction has been seized.
Following the trap, simultaneous searches are being carried out at three locations linked to Mallick on suspicion of disproportionate assets (DA).
A case has been registered in this connection at Berhampur Vigilance police station on Friday against Mallick under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
