Jajpur: The Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Monday apprehended Prafulla Kumar Nath, Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) of Kachara Sahi Gram Panchayat under Korei Block in Jajpur district, while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 from a poor widow beneficiary.
According to the vigilance team, Nath was caught while accepting the bribe in exchange for releasing the final installment and bonus amount under Antyodaya Gruha Yojana (AGY), a state government rural housing scheme that provides pucca houses to homeless individuals.
The beneficiary, a widow who had completed the construction of her house within the stipulated time, was entitled to the final installment along with a bonus. However, Nath allegedly demanded Rs 10,000 as a bribe to process the payment. When the woman expressed her inability to pay the full amount, he reduced it to Rs 5,000 and reportedly threatened to withhold the due funds if she did not comply.
Distressed by the demand, the beneficiary approached the Odisha Vigilance authorities. A trap was laid, leading to Nath’s immediate apprehension while he was accepting Rs 5,000 bribe. The entire bribe money was recovered from his possession and seized as evidence.
Following the trap, vigilance officials launched simultaneous searches at two locations linked to the accused to probe his disproportionate assets. A case has been registered at Kataka Vigilance police station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, and further investigation is underway.