Odisha Vigilance nabs fisheries officer and aide for accepting Rs 30,000 bribe

Bhubaneswar, May 1: In a major crackdown on corruption, Odisha Vigilance on Thursday arrested Bibhuti Bhusan Pradhan, Assistant Fisheries Officer (AFO) of Biramaharajpur in Sonepur district, and his associate Babulal Barik for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000.

According to a press release by Vigilance officials, the bribe was sought from a Women Self Help Group (WSHG) to facilitate the release of the second-phase subsidy under the ‘Carp Grow-out in GP Tank by WSHG’ scheme. Initially, Pradhan had demanded Rs 45,000, but after the complainant expressed her inability to pay the full amount, he agreed to accept Rs 30,000. Acting on the complaint, Vigilance officials laid a trap and caught both accused red-handed while accepting the bribe through Barik.

The entire bribe amount was recovered and seized from their possession. Both Pradhan and Barik have been detained at the Sonepur fisheries office for further questioning.

In follow-up searches, Vigilance officials seized Rs 3.58 lakh from Pradhan’s rented residence in Sonepur and an additional Rs 48,610 from Barik during a personal frisking. Investigations are ongoing.