Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Thursday arrested Sagar Chandra Palai, Gaon Sathi of Balipatna (Mate), Bhubaneswar, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 to release the last installment of payment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
According to an official press release, Palai was caught demanding and accepting the bribe from a beneficiary to facilitate the release of the final payment for excavation work carried out on the complainant’s own land under the MGNREGA Individual scheme.
Despite the completion of the work, Palai reportedly insisted on the bribe to disburse the last installment. The complainant, unable to resolve the issue, approached the Vigilance authorities with details of the harassment.
Acting on the complaint, Vigilance officers laid a trap and apprehended Palai while accepting the bribe. The entire amount was seized from his possession.
Further investigations are underway, including a probe from the angle of disproportionate assets linked to the accused.
A case has been registered at Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 (PS Case No. 14/2025). The inquiry into the matter is ongoing.
A detailed report will follow.
