Bargarh: Odisha Vigilance on Tuesday nabbed District Resource Person (DRP) Rakshi Meher for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 30,000 to release subsidy under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme.
The accused, Rakshi Meher, DRP of Bargarh district under the General Manager, District Industries Centre, Bargarh, was caught while accepting the bribe amount deposited directly into her bank account by a beneficiary.
According to Vigilance, the beneficiary had availed a loan of Rs 8.64 lakh on March 15, 2026, for a bakery unit under the PMFME scheme. He was entitled to a 35% subsidy amounting to Rs 3,02, 400. However, instead of processing the file for the subsidy release, Meher allegedly demanded Rs 30,000 as a bribe. She also sent her bank account details to the beneficiary via SMS and asked him to deposit the amount.
Unable to pay the bribe, the beneficiary approached Vigilance authorities. Acting on the complaint, a Vigilance team laid a trap on Tuesday. Meher was apprehended while the beneficiary was depositing Rs 30,000 into her account as per her instructions.
Vigilance officials have seized Meher’s mobile phone along with the bank message confirming the Rs 30,000 deposit. Following the trap, simultaneous searches are underway at three locations linked to Meher from a disproportionate assets angle.
A case has been registered in this connection at Sambalpur Vigilance PS under Section 7 of the PC (Amendment) Act, 2018. Investigation is in progress.
