From Rs 2,000 Salary to Rs 2 Crore Cash: The Great Indian Govt Servant Scam

By Parambrahma Tripathy

Baikuntha Nath Sarangi, Chief Engineer of Odisha’s Rural Works Department, was just a day away from retirement when the Vigilance Directorate arrested him. The irony was brutal—a man who began his career as a stipendiary engineer in 1999, earning a meagre Rs 2,000 per month, had amassed assets worth crores. Cash bundles worth Rs 2.1 crore were found stuffed in his home. When the raid began, he desperately threw wads of Rs 500 notes out of his window, like a guilty child hiding stolen sweets. But the law caught up. His disproportionate assets stood at 483%—over Rs 2.56 crore in cash, two multi-storeyed buildings, seven plots, gold weighing over a kilogram, and investments worth crores.

Sarangi’s story is not unique. It’s the oldest tale in India’s bureaucratic playbook: a small-town boy, son of a teacher, climbs the ladder through hard work, only to turn into a predator. His journey—from a humble assistant engineer in Sundargarh to Chief Engineer in Bhubaneswar—mirrors the moral decay festering in India’s government offices. The system that was supposed to uplift him instead turned him into another link in the corruption chain.

Morality is a luxury few can afford!

What turns an honest, struggling officer into a corrupt one? Many government servants come from backgrounds where they’ve faced bribe-seeking officials first-hand. A poor student remembers paying bribes for a caste certificate. A farmer’s son recalls how his father had to grease palms to get a tube well sanctioned. Yet, once they secure a government job, they replicate the same exploitation.
The reasons are systemic. Low salaries, delayed promotions, and political pressure create an environment where corruption is normalized. But the bigger culprit is impunity. Less than 1% of corruption cases end in convictions (Transparency International, 2023). When the risk is low and the rewards are astronomical, morality becomes a luxury few can afford.

In lower-middle-class and middle-class families, government jobs are prized not just for stability but for the "additional income" they bring. A 2022 survey by Lokniti-CSDS found that 56% of Indians believe most public servants are corrupt, yet 62% would still prefer their children to join government services. Why? Because corruption is celebrated discreetly.
An Amin/ RI who owns three flats on a salary of ₹40,000 is called "smart." A municipal engineer building a mansion is "well-settled." The unspoken rule is simple: if you don’t loot, you’re a fool. Families brag about their son-in-law in the PWD who gets contracts "adjusted." The social shame isn’t in taking bribes—it’s in failing to exploit the position enough.

The system is broken

Another major cause of corruption is the "If everyone is doing it, why shouldn’t I?" mindset. Junior officers see their bosses taking cuts from contracts, politicians demanding kickbacks, and colleagues flaunting wealth far beyond their salaries. Resistance feels pointless—like a lone honest clerk in an office where files don’t move without bribes. The system doesn’t just allow corruption; it rewards it. Promotions often go to those who "manage" (read: share bribes) well. A 2020 study by the Centre for Media Studies found that 68% of Indians paid bribes for basic services—proof that corruption isn’t an exception; it’s the rule.

Corruption isn’t just about money—it’s about broken systems. In public works, contracts go to the highest bidder, not the most competent. The result? Roads that crumble in a monsoon. In health, substandard medicines are purchased, leading to avoidable deaths. In education, teachers buy postings in cities, leaving village schools vacant. In law enforcement, the rich buy justice while the poor wait endlessly. The World Bank estimates that corruption shaves off 1-2% of India’s GDP yearly, enough to build 10 new AIIMS hospitals every year. But the biggest loss is trust. When people believe the system is rigged, they stop believing in the system itself. And that’s how nations rot from within. 

Not policy failure, but betrayal of trust

Technology and transparency can help, but the real change must be cultural. Until corruption is seen as shameful, not smart, the cycle will continue. Stronger whistle-blower protections, faster trials, and social rejection of ill-gotten wealth are crucial. Society must stop celebrating corruption. Families should value ethics over wealth. The government must act too—better wages, stricter laws, and less discretion can reduce graft. Technology, like e-governance, has cut corruption in some states by limiting human contact. Rajasthan’s social accountability bill is a step forward, empowering citizens to demand better services.

Corruption by government servants isn’t just a policy failure—it’s a betrayal of trust. Sarangi’s bundles of cash weren’t just money; they were stolen dreams of better roads, schools, and hospitals. For every corrupt officer, countless lives are ruined. The poor lose the most, trapped in a system that demands bribes they can’t pay. India can break this cycle, but only if we stop cheering the corrupt and start holding them accountable. The choice is ours—build a fair society or let corruption paralyse us forever.

Parambrahma Tripathy is an author and Communication for Development professional with over 18 years of experience. He has worked with organizations like BBC Media Action, Landesa, The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, IPE Global, and Coceptual Media. He has been recognized with several awards, including the prestigious Laadli Media and Gender Sensitivity Award in 2022 and 2023, Best Lyricist of the Year in 2022, Dr. Radhanath Rath Fellowship for Journalism, Kalinga Literary Youth Award, Timepass Bestseller Award, Srujan India Youth Award, Utkal Sahitya Samaj Felicitation and Odia Yuva Stambha Samman(2023)

(DISCLAIMER: This is an opinion piece. The views expressed are the author’s own and have nothing to do with OTV’s charter or views. OTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)