Odisha Vigilance arrests Sarpanch and husband for Rs. 20,000 bribe

Bhubaneswar, July 23: Mamali Samal, the Sarpanch of Susuba Gram Panchayat in Kaniha Block, Angul district, along with her husband Sisira Samal, has been arrested by the Odisha Vigilance for soliciting and accepting a bribe of Rs. 20,000. The bribe was demanded from a beneficiary to expedite the release of pending wage bills for laborers working on a pond under the MGNREGS project.

Sisira Samal was apprehended today by the Odisha Vigilance team while accepting the bribe amount in the office of the PEO, Susuba G.P., in the presence of Mamali Samal. The entire bribe was recovered and seized.

Following the arrest, simultaneous searches are being conducted at two locations connected to Mamali Samal as part of an ongoing investigation into disproportionate assets.

A case has been registered under Cuttack Vigilance P.S. Case No. 18 dated 22.07.2024, under Sections 7 and 12 of the PC (Amendment) Act, 2018. The investigation is continuing against both the accused.