Bhubaneswar: A sarpanch was apprehended by Odisha Vigilance officials on Sunday while allegedly taking a bribe of Ra 20,000 from a self-help group (SHG) functionary in Sonpur district.
The accused was identified as Suryakanti Pandey, Sarpanch of Nimna Gram Panchayat under Ullunda Block of the district.
She had dem
anded bribe for signing the agreement papers required for pisciculture in the GP Tank and to facilitate release of subsidy amount from District Fisheries Office in favour of the SHG group. It is pertinent to mention here that the SHG Group has taken the lease of G P Tank for five years for pisciculture purposes.
Initially, the accused demanded Rs 40,000/- but the SHG functionary expressed inability to pay the amount. On negotiation, the Sarpanch reduced the bribe amount to Rs 20,000/-.
Finding no other means, the functionary of the SHG approached the vigilance authorities and team of team of the anti-corruption agency nabbed Pandey while taking bribe amount of Rs 20,000/- from the complainant. The entire tainted bribe money has been recovered from Pandey and seized.
Following the trap, simultaneous searches are going on two locations connected to Pandey from Disproportionate Assets angle. A case has been registered and investigation is in progress.