OAS, engineers, police officers among dozens govt staff caught in bribery cases across Odisha

From high-ranking OAS officers and tehsildars to junior clerks, engineers, Anganwadi officials, and even police personnel, Odisha’s anti-corruption wing has stepped up its crackdown on graft. 

A string of bribery cases in the past few months highlights how corruption cuts across the state bureaucracy, sparing neither senior officials nor low-level staff. This also highlights the newly-formed BJP government's commitment to zero-tolerance to corruption.

A Sneak Peek Into Top Bureaucrats in Vigilance Net

The most high-profile arrest came in Sambalpur district, where Aswini Kumar Panda, an OAS officer and tehsildar of Bamra, was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting Rs 15,000. As per the allegations, he had demanded Rs 20,000 for clearing a land mutation file. The arrest sent shockwaves as Panda was an OPSC civil services topper.

In Rayagada district, a Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) and her clerk were trapped by Vigilance sleuths after allegedly demanding a whopping Rs 80,000 bribe from a tribal woman in exchange for securing an Anganwadi job.

Welfare & Education Staff Under Scanner

Corruption has not spared grassroots-level welfare services. In Koraput district, an Anganwadi supervisor, Renuka Pattnaik, was allegedly caught accepting Rs 50,000 from a newly recruited worker for confirming her appointment.

In Khordha, a junior assistant in the BEO office was arrested while allegedly accepting Rs 6,000 to process a pay bill. Similarly, in Gajapati, a senior clerk and peon at the CDMO office landed in Vigilance net while taking Rs 25,000 for issuing an appointment letter.

Engineers, Clerks & Cash Hauls

In Bargarh, a lady junior engineer was caught while allegedly receiving Rs 8,000 as part of a Rs 32,000 bribe demand for clearing MGNREGS bills. Meanwhile, in Bhubaneswar’s Khandagiri Sub-Registrar Office, Vigilance arrested a junior clerk with 'Rs 20,000 bribe money and later seized Rs 15 lakh cash from her residence'.

Police & Forest Officials Not Spared

Corruption has penetrated the enforcement agencies too. In Sundargarh, a deputy forest ranger, Asit Pattnayak, was arrested for allegedly taking Rs 18,000 bribe; subsequent raids unearthed Rs 8.37 lakh in cash and 390 grams of gold.

Also Read: Deputy ranger caught red-handed while taking bribe; Vigilance raids uncover cash, gold in Odisha

In multiple cases, Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) to Home Guards of police were caught while taking bribes ranging from Rs 5000 to Rs 15,000, often linked to land disputes or vehicle release.

A Pattern of Corruption

What emerges from these cases is a disturbing picture: bribery isn’t confined to a particular rank or department but runs through the entire machinery, from OAS officers and engineers to clerks, Anganwadi workers, and even police staff.

While individual bribe amounts may range from Rs 5,000 to Rs 80,000, raids often expose much larger sums stashed away at officials’ residences.

Public Sentiment & Vigilance Push

These repeated Odisha Vigilance operations have sparked both public outrage and cautious optimism. Many citizens see this as a long-overdue clean-up of government offices notorious for red-tapism and bribery. At the same time, activists caution that unless systemic reforms and strict departmental actions follow, such arrests may remain symbolic.

Officials in the Vigilance Directorate have hinted at further intensified raids in the coming months, suggesting more heads may roll as part of the Mohan Majhi-government's anti-corruption drive.