Kandhamal, Oct 31: Odisha Vigilance officials today apprehended head master in-charge of Budaguda Government Girls’ High School in Kandhamal district for demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹4,000 from a female staff member of the same school.

Kumarmani Mallick had demanded ₹4,000 from the complainant to regularize her period of absence and facilitate the release of her salary for the past two months. He had allegedly threatened not to process her salary unless the bribe was paid.

Finding no other recourse, the complainant approached the Vigilance authorities, who verified the allegations and laid a trap. During the operation conducted today, Mallick was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe through digital mode (PhonePe). The Vigilance team has seized the mobile phone used in the transaction, which contains evidence of the ₹4,000 transfer.

Following the successful trap, simultaneous searches are being conducted at three locations associated with Mallick to investigate possible disproportionate assets (DA).

A case has been registered against him under Berhampur Vigilance.