Bhadrak, June 5: Odisha Vigilance on Friday apprehended a junior assistant posted in the District Education Office (DEO), Bhadrak, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹10,000 from a private school functionary.

The accused has been identified as Srikanta Kumar Dash, Junior Assistant in the Office of the District Education Officer, Bhadrak. According to Vigilance officials, Dash had allegedly demanded the bribe to process a file related to the issuance of a Recognition Certificate in favour of a private school in the district.

Sources said the school functionary had repeatedly requested Dash to process the file without any illegal payment. However, the accused allegedly insisted on receiving ₹10,000 for facilitating the work. Left with no alternative, the complainant approached Odisha Vigilance and reported the matter.

Acting on the complaint, a Vigilance team laid a trap and caught Dash red-handed while accepting the bribe amount from the complainant. The entire tainted money of ₹10,000 was recovered from his possession and seized in the presence of witnesses.

Further investigation into the case is underway.