In a significant anti-corruption operation, Odisha Vigilance arrested Sushila Sabar, Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) of Bisamcuttack, and Rama Chandra Patra, Clerk-cum-Accountant, on Sunday for allegedly demanding and accepting Rs80,000 as a bribe. The illegal payment was sought for issuing an appointment letter to a Dongaria Kandha tribal woman selected for the post of Anganwadi Worker.
According to officials, the tribal applicant had applied for the Anganwadi Worker position about a month ago. On June 20, when she inquired about her appointment status at the CDPO’s office, she was reportedly told to pay a bribe of Rs1 lakh. Patra accepted Rs20,000 via PhonePe UPI as the first instalment, with the remaining Rs80,000 scheduled for June 23.
Disturbed by the demand, the tribal woman informed the Vigilance Department. Acting on her complaint, authorities laid a trap and caught both officials red-handed while receiving the final payment. The full bribe amount was seized in the presence of independent witnesses. Searches were also conducted at their residences in Tumbiguda, Rayagada.
A case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, has been registered at Koraput Vigilance Police Station, and investigations are ongoing.
Notably, Rama Chandra Patra faces a pending corruption case from 2014 linked to misappropriation of government funds while serving as Nazir at the Rayagada Tahasil office. That case is currently before the Special Judge, Vigilance, Jeypore.
This arrest underlines the Vigilance Department’s commitment to rooting out corruption, especially in tribal and marginalised communities, ensuring transparency and accountability in public service.
