Bhubaneswar, May 1: In a major crackdown on corruption, Odisha Vigilance on Thursday apprehended Assistant Fisheries Officer (AFO) Bibhuti Bhusan Pradhan from Biramaharajpur in Subarnapur district for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000.

Pradhan, along with a private individual named Babulal Barik, was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe amount from a woman associated with a self-help group (SHG). The bribe was allegedly demanded in exchange for releasing the second phase subsidy under the ‘Carp Grow-out in GP Tank by WSHG’ scheme.

According to an official release by Odisha Vigilance, the original demand was Rs 45,000. However, the amount was later reduced to Rs 30,000 after the complainant expressed her inability to pay the higher sum.

Acting swiftly on the complaint, the Vigilance team set up a trap and successfully recovered the entire bribe amount from the possession of the accused.

A case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Searches are also underway at multiple premises linked to Pradhan to investigate potential disproportionate assets.

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