Malkangiri/Bhubaneswar, February 3: Odisha vigilance department on Tuesday arrested a Junior Engineer (JE) of the Tata Power Southern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPSODL) for accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a bricks factory owner.

The accused, Pradesh Prasad Nayak, is currently posted as the Junior Engineer of TPSODL in Malkangiri. A private person namely Bhanjakishore Swain was also apprehended by the anti-graft wing officials along with the JE. 

Teh duo was demanding and taking bribe Rs 20,000 from a bricks factory owner in lieu of providing electricity connection to the bricks factory.

According to a Vigilance statement, a team of Odisha Vigilance nabbed Nayak and his associate Swain, while they were taking bribe of Rs 20,000 from the complainant near the main gate of the TPSODL office.

The entire tainted bribe money Rs 20,000 has been recovered and seized from them.

Following the trap, simultaneous searches are underway at two locations linked to Nayak from DA angle.

“In this connection, Koraput Vigilance PS Case No 01/2026, U/s 7PC (Amendment) Act, 2018 has been registered against the accused duo Sri Nayak, JE and Sri Swain (Private Person). Investigation is in progress,” the statement read.