Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Saturday apprehended a staffer of the office of the Block Veterinary Officer of Badachana in Jajpur district for allegedly taking Rs 30,000 bribe from a beneficiary under poultry farming scheme for release of subsidy money.
The accused, identified as Subhasis Samal, is a programme assistant in the Block Veterinary Officer’s office. He was caught while allegedly and taking Rs 30,000/- from a beneficiary under poultry farming scheme for release of first phase subsidy amount Rs.2,16,000/-and for further verification for release of second phase subsidy relating to construction and induction of poultry farm by the beneficiary.
The beneficiary had applied for the poultry farm on December 12, 2024 under the above scheme. The cost of the project was Rs.7,20,000/- and the subsidy amount was Rs.4,32,000.00 @ 60 % of the cost of the project. As per the guideline of the scheme, the first phase subsidy amount was released after construction of the building in favour of the beneficiary and the second phase subsidy to be released after induction.
Even after completion of 2nd phase construction work, the beneficiary had been requesting accused Samal to release the rest subsidy amount. But, accused Samal was demanding bribe Rs 40,000/- from the beneficiary (around 10% of the total subsidy amount) to release the 2nd phase subsidy amount in his favour. When the beneficiary expressed his inability to pay the demanded bribe, Samal reduced the demanded bribe to Rs.30,000/- on negotiation.
Samal also threatened the beneficiary, unless the bribe amount Rs.30,000/- was paid, he would not initiate the file for release of 2nd phase subsidy amount. Being aggrieved over the matter, the beneficiary reported the matter to Vigilance authorities narrating harassment by Samal.
Upon receiving the information, a team of Odisha Vigilance nabbed accused Samal while taking bribe of Rs.30,000/- from the beneficiary at Ganthi Chhak on NH-16 near Badachana. The entire tainted bribe money has been recovered from the exclusive possession of accused Samal and seized.
Following the trap, simultaneous searches are going on at two locations connected to Samal from Disproportionate Assets angle. A case has been registered and investigation is underway.
