Berhampur, August 12: Chief District Agriculture Officer (CDAO), Berhmapur has been apprehended by Odisha Vigilance on Wednesday red-handed with Rs 15,000 bribe.

The tainted officer has been identified as Byomkesh Mishra.

He was trapped by the sleuths with the bribe while receiving the amount from a beneficiary to favour the farmer under Mukhya Mantri Krushi Udyog Yojana(MKUY) releasing the subsidy.

The beneficiary was requesting the accused for the last two months to process his file. However, despite several requests made by the beneficiary, the accused CDAO was not processing the file. Instead, he demanded a bribe for it.

Getting no way out, the beneficiary reported the matter to the vigilance. Acting on it, the Vigilance team laid a trap today and held the CDAO red-handed.

The entire tainted bribe money was recovered from the possession of the accused on the spot and it was formally seized.

Following the trap, simultaneous searches were initiated at three locations relating to Mishra from DA angle.

In this connection, the Berhmapur Vigilance has registered a case under relevant Sections of the Anti-corruption act.

Raids are underway, said a vigilance official who is heading the search operation.