Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown on corruption, Odisha Vigilance on Friday apprehended Satyananda Behera, Assistant Director of Textiles and in-charge Deputy Director (Textiles), Subarnapur, along with Ramakanta Meher, Secretary of a Weavers’ Cooperative Society under Ullunda Block, for demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹36,000 from trainees.
According to a press note issued by Odisha Vigilance, the duo had allegedly demanded an overall bribe of ₹80,000 from trainees undergoing Skill Up-Gradation Training on Tie & Dye Making and Weaving under the Promotion of Handloom Industry (POHI) scheme. As per the scheme guidelines, each trainee is entitled to a ₹200-per-day stipend during the training period.
With the training nearing completion, the trainees reportedly approached Behera for release of their stipend. Instead, Behera allegedly demanded money to process the payment. Aggrieved by the illegal demand, the trainees lodged a complaint with Odisha Vigilance.
Acting swiftly on the complaint, Vigilance sleuths laid a trap and caught Behera red-handed while receiving ₹36,000 as the first installment of the demanded bribe. The entire tainted amount was recovered from the possession of the accused and seized.
Following the trap, simultaneous searches were launched at three locations linked to Behera and one location connected to Meher, focusing on possible disproportionate assets.
A case has been registered under Sambalpur Vigilance police station, under Sections 7/12 of the PC (Amendment) Act, 2018, against both accused. Further investigation is underway.
