Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Saturday apprehended Subhasis Samal, Programme Assistant at the Office of the Block Veterinary Officer, Badachana, in Jajpur district, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from a beneficiary under the poultry farming scheme.
According to an official press release, Samal was apprehended while taking Rs 30,000 from a beneficiary under the poultry farming scheme. The bribe was demanded for releasing the first-phase subsidy of Rs 2.16 lakh and facilitating the second-phase subsidy for the construction and induction of a poultry farm.
The beneficiary had applied for the poultry farm on December 12, 2024. The total project cost was Rs 7.2 lakh, and the subsidy amounted to Rs 4.32 lakh, 60% of the project cost. As per scheme guidelines, the first-phase subsidy is released after building construction and the second phase after induction.
Despite completing the second-phase construction, the beneficiary alleged that Samal demanded a bribe of Rs 40,000, later reduced to Rs 30,000, threatening to withhold the subsidy unless the amount was paid. The beneficiary approached Vigilance authorities, who laid a trap.
Samal was nabbed at Ganthi Chhak on NH-16 near Badachana. The entire bribe amount was recovered and seized. Following the arrest, simultaneous searches are underway at two locations linked to Samal.
In this connection, Cuttack Vigilance PS Case No. 5/2026 under Section 7 of the PC (Amendment) Act, 2018 has been registered against him.
