Bhubaneswar: Vigilance sleuths apprehended Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) of Dashmantpur Block in Koraput district, along with an Anganwadi Worker of Adhamunda Anganwadi Centre while they were demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 10,000 from a newly appointed Anganwadi Helper in exchange for opening her personal file and releasing her salary.
The Anganwadi Helper had approached CDPO Sakuntala Das, the Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO), to release her salary after joining her position one and a half months ago. However, Das demanded a bribe of Rs. 10,000 and instructed the helper to pay the amount to her associate, Anganwadi worker Minati Khosla.
Unable to find an alternative solution, the helper approached the Vigilance authorities, who laid a trap and caught Das and Khosla while accepting the bribe.
The entire bribe amount has been recovered and seized from the accused. Simultaneous searches are being conducted at three locations linked to Das and one location linked to Khosla to investigate Disproportionate Assets (DA).
A case has been registered against the two accused persons, and an investigation is currently underway. The Koraput Vigilance Police Station has filed Case No. 18/2025 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
