Kendrapara: Garadpur ICDS Supervisor was arrested today by the Odisha Vigilance sleuths for allegedly accepting bribe from an Anganwadi Karmi (worker). The ICDS Supervisor was caught red-handed by the anti-corruption agency sleuths while accepting the bribe amount of Rs 5,000.
While the arrested ICDS Supervisor has been identified as Kabita Behera, the complainant Anganwadi Karmi is Binodini Maharaj of Mahamuda Anganwadi Centre under Garadpur.
Talking to media, Kendrapara Vigilance DSP Surendranath Mahaguru said, “Yesterday, Mahamuda Anganwadi Centre’s worker Binodini Maharaj lodged her complaint with us that Garadpur lady supervisor was demanding Rs 5000 bribe for passing the bill for hot cook meal and sending it to DSWO. It was of three months and the bill amounted to Rs 24,700.”
“Basing on the complaint, we arranged a vigilance trap and today while Binodini Maharaj was offering the lady supervisor Rs 5000 bribe, we arrested her. The bribe amount of Rs 5,000 has been seized, hand wash was conducted and the red colour phenothelene positive was caught. The concerned file has also been seized. She will be court-forwarded,” the Vigilance DSP informed.
Complainant Anganwadi Worker Binodini Maharaj told media, “Madam (arrested ICDS Supervisor) often demands money when passes bill. She threatens not to do if percentage money is not given to her. This problem we have been facing for the last two years since Madam joined. As I had not given money, she had earlier harassed me at the Centre through the CDPO.”
“She had demanded me the amount on August 2. Thus, I offered her the amount today. She has been demanding like this,” she revealed.
On the contrary, arrested ICDS Supervisor Kabita Behera defended, “It is totally wrong. There is least chance of demanding even a single pie. The Mahamuda Anganwadi worker forcibly put it into my bag. I never demand money for passing any bill. CDPO Madam had been to the Centre for enquiry and I had also accompanied her. The official records there weren’t updated. Madam instructed the Anganwadi worker to update all the records and show it to me. The Anganwadi worker had received the explanation-sought order from the office.”
“She was instructed to show the updated records within seven days. Today she had brought only a plotting register. I had instructed here to get all the records. She then left. Returned after five minutes and immediately put the money into my bag and went away soon after. I had no inkling of the money,” she argued.
