Mayurbhanj: The Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Tuesday apprehended Parsuram Naik, Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) of Mirginendi Gram Panchayat under Karanjia Block in Mayurbhanj district, while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 18,000.
According to the Vigilance release, Naik demanded the illegal gratification from a contractual staffer of the same Gram Panchayat to process his pending arrear remuneration and facilitate the release of regular salary. The staffer had not received any remuneration from March 26, 2023, to April 3, 2025, despite orders issued by the Block Development Officer (BDO) for its release. The staffer reportedly approached Naik multiple times requesting the release of his dues. However, the PEO allegedly demanded Rs 18,000 as bribe and threatened that the payment would not be processed if the amount was not paid.
Left with no other option, the harassed staffer approached the Odisha Vigilance authorities with a complaint.
Acting on the complaint, a Vigilance team laid a trap and caught Naik red-handed while he was accepting the bribe money. The entire amount of Rs 18,000 was recovered from his possession and seized as evidence. Simultaneous searches are being conducted at two locations linked to the accused PEO from the angle of disproportionate assets (DA).
A case has been registered against him under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, and further investigation is underway.
