TPSODL Junior Engineer and his associate held by Vigilance for taking Rs 20,000 bribe in Malkangiri

A Junior Engineer (JE) of TPSODL in Malkangiri and his associate were arrested by Odisha Vigilance on Tuesday while allegedly accepting a Rs 20,000 bribe in exchange for facilitating an electricity connection to a brick factory.

The accused have been identified as Pradesh Prasad Nayak, Junior Engineer of TPSODL, Malkangiri, and Bhanjakishor Swain, a private individual. Vigilance officials caught them red-handed during a trap operation while they were allegedly demanding and receiving the bribe from the brick factory owner near the main gate of the office. The entire tainted amount of ₹20,000 was recovered and seized from their possession.

According to Vigilance sources, the bribe was demanded to expedite the process of providing an electricity connection to the factory. Following the arrest, simultaneous searches were launched at two locations linked to the Junior Engineer to verify possible possession of disproportionate assets.

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In this connection, Koraput Vigilance Police Station Case No. 01/2026 has been registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 against both accused. Further investigation is underway.

Officials said the action underscores Odisha Vigilance’s continued efforts to curb corruption in public service departments.