Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance on Tuesday apprehended Biswanath Das, a Village Agriculture Worker (VAW) posted under Kishorenagar block in Angul district, while he was accepting a bribe of ₹20,000 from an empanelled NGO.
According to an official press release, Das, who was attached to Kadalimunda, Raniakota, and Dhaurapalli gram panchayats, demanded the bribe to countersign utilization certificates related to the distribution of seeds and pesticides to farmers. The countersignature was necessary for clearance of bills.
Unable to comply with the demand, the complainant approached Vigilance authorities. Acting swiftly, a Vigilance team laid a trap and caught Das red-handed while receiving the bribe amount. The entire sum of ₹20,000, treated with phenolphthalein powder, was recovered from his exclusive possession and seized in the presence of witnesses.
Following the trap, simultaneous searches are being carried out at two locations linked to Das to probe disproportionate assets (DA).
In this connection, Cuttack Vigilance Police Station Case No. 28 dated 08.09.2025 has been registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Further investigation is underway.
