Odisha senior clerk caught taking bribe of Rs 20,000 by Vigilance

In a major crackdown on corruption, the Odisha Vigilance on Thursday apprehended a senior clerk of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) Department in Kalahandi while he was accepting a bribe at his official residence.

The accused senior clerk has been identified as T. Venkata Giri Rao. Sources said, Rao was caught red-handed by the Vigilance sleuths for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from Trilochan Sabar, a retired fitter. 

According to sources, the bribe was sought to facilitate the processing and clearance of Sabar’s pension and gratuity papers after his retirement from service.

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Following a complaint filed by the victim, Vigilance officials laid a trap operation, during which the accused clerk was nabbed while taking the bribe amount. The entire operation was conducted under the supervision of senior Vigilance officers.

The Vigilance team also conducted search operations at the residence and office premises of the accused to gather further evidence related to disproportionate assets and other possible irregularities.

An official statement from the Vigilance Directorate confirmed that a case has been registered, and further investigation is underway to determine the extent of the clerk’s involvement in corrupt practices.

The incident has once again highlighted the Odisha Vigilance’s continued drive against corruption within government offices, reaffirming its commitment to ensure transparency and accountability in public service.