Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance has apprehended an Assistant Fisheries Officer (AFO) at Polasara in Ganjam district, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 8,000 from a beneficiary.
The accused, identified as Suresh Kumar Behera, was caught red-handed while receiving the bribe amount through digital mode (Phonepe) on Wednesday.
According to the complaint, the beneficiary had invested Rs 2,31,390 in a fishery project under the Assistance to Network Fish Seed Growers scheme and was entitled to receive a subsidy of approximately Rs 1.38 lakhs. However, the AFO allegedly delayed the release of the subsidy amount and money receipt for the procurement of spawn worth Rs 43,000, despite repeated requests by the beneficiary.
The vigilance authorities took swift action after receiving the complaint and laid a trap to catch the accused. Searches are currently underway at two locations linked to the accused to investigate potential disproportionate assets.
A case has been registered against Suresh Kumar Behera under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Investigation is underway.
