Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance apprehended Nupur Seth, Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) of Gyan Gram Panchayat under Padampur block in Bargarh district, and her husband Bed Prakash Biswal for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000.
The accused PEO had been demanding Rs 10,000 from a complainant to shortlist an eligible person as a beneficiary under the PMAY scheme. Despite the complainant’s eligibility and repeated requests, Seth continued to demand the bribe. As the complainant being poor expressed his inability to pay the bribe amount, the PEO reduced the amount to Rs 5,000 after negotiation.
Left with no option, the complainant reported the matter to Vigilance authorities, who laid a trap and caught Seth and her husband red-handed while accepting the bribe. Both accused have been apprehended, and the entire bribe amount has been recovered and seized.
Simultaneous searches are being conducted at two locations linked to Seth from a disproportionate assets angle.
A case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, and an investigation is underway.
