Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Wednesday apprehended Assistant Fisheries Officer( AFO) in Ganjam’s Polasara, Suresh Kumar Behera, while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 8,000 in digital mode.
According to a Vigilance release, Behera had demanded the illegal gratification from a beneficiary of Assistance to Network Fish Seed Growers scheme to release Rs.1.38 lakh subsidy and money receipt for procurement of spawn.
“As per the provisions of the scheme, the beneficiary is entitled to get 60% of the amount invested in the project. Further, the beneficiary had invested an amount of Rs.2,31,390 for fish feed, including Rs 43,000 for procuring fish spawn through the AFO. Behera was dilly dallying on issuing a money receipt against payment of Rs 43,000 in favour of the beneficiary for procurement of spawn from a government hatchery at Bhanjanagar, despite repeated requests. He instead insisted on a bribe of Rs 8,000 through digital mode (Phonepe) to release the subsidy amount and the money receipt against payment of Rs 43,000,” it said.
Following which, the beneficiary reported the matter to the Vigilance authorities, who accordingly laid a trp and nabbed Behera during the digital transaction. His mobile phone has been seized and simultaneous searches are underway at two locations to ascertain whether he has accumulated assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
A case has been registered under Section 7 of the PC (Amendment) Act, 2018, and further investigation is underway, it added.