Rayagada, June 24: In a major anti-corruption crackdown, the Odisha Vigilance on Tuesday apprehended Rayagada Rural Works Division Executive Engineer Prasanna Kumar Pattnaik while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from a contractor.
According to Vigilance officials, Pattnaik had demanded the bribe from contractor Sanyasi Subuddhi for processing and clearing bills related to works executed by him. Following the demand, the contractor lodged a complaint with the Vigilance Department.
Acting on the complaint, Vigilance officials laid a trap and treated the currency notes with chemical powder. As per the plan, the complainant handed over the bribe amount to the Executive Engineer at his official residence at around 9 pm.
Soon after the transaction, the Vigilance team conducted a surprise raid at Pattnaik’s government quarters and caught him red-handed while accepting the bribe. The tainted money amounting to Rs 2 lakh was recovered and seized from his possession.
The operation was carried out under the leadership of Vigilance DSP Suryakanti Takri. Following his arrest, Pattnaik was taken to the Vigilance office for further interrogation and legal action.
Further investigation into the case is underway.
