Bhubaneswar, July 10: The State Vigilance on Friday nabbed a Junior Engineer for taking bribe of Rs 32,000 in Badasahi block of Mayurbhnaj district.

Accused Sushil Kumar Singh, Junior Engineer of Badasahi block was caught red handed by the anti-graft officials while taking a bribe of Rs 32,000 from a Mate engaged under MGNREGA in a gram panchayat under Badasahi Block for clearing the final bill of the above work.

“The mate was looking after the execution of one morum/metal road work at a cost of Rs 5 lakh in the GP. After completion of the work, he had been requesting the accused JE Sri Singh for a couple of months to clear the final bill. But, the accused Sri Singh demanded bribe Rs.32,000/- (approx 7% of cost of the work),” a Vigilance communique said.

When the victim expressed his inability to pay the demanded bribe, accused Singh insisted on taking a bribe. Finding no alternative, the victim reported the matter to vigilance authorities.

“Following this, today, a team of Odisha Vigilance nabbed Sri Singh while taking bribe Rs 32,000/- from the complainant. The entire tainted bribe money Rs.32,000/- has been recovered from the possession of accused Sri Singh, JE and seized,” it added.

Following the trap, simultaneous searches are underway at three locations linked to Singh on possible possession of disproportionate assets.