Keonjhar, Nov 6: Biplab Keshari Samantaray, District Social Security Officer (DSSO) of Keonjhar, was arrested by the Odisha Vigilance today for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹20,000 from an NGO through the digital payment platform PhonePe. He is scheduled to be produced before the court today.
The arrest follows multiple allegations against Samantaray regarding the collection of bribes from NGOs and individuals in connection with the execution of agreements and the release of grant-in-aid payments under various Social Security Schemes of the Government.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Samantaray may have received bribes not only through his own PhonePe account but also through accounts belonging to his family members, relatives, and office staff. A significant number of transactions from different NGOs and individuals have been identified and are currently under verification.
In connection with the case, the Vigilance Cell Division has registered PS Case No. 11/2025 against Samantaray under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
Following the arrest, vigilance officials conducted simultaneous searches at three locations associated with Samantaray. During these searches, details of ten plots in and around Bhubaneswar owned by Samantaray and his family were documented. Additionally, officials unearthed a three-storey building of approximately 3,000 sq. ft., a simplex house in Madanpur, Bhubaneswar, and a three-acre farmhouse in the same area.
The investigation is ongoing, and further updates are expected as authorities continue their probe into the alleged corruption network.
