Berhampur, Nov 27: The Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Wednesday apprehended a Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) in Ganjam district for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 12,000 from an Anganwadi Helper for release of her arrear remuneration.

The accused official has been identified as Sandhyarani Panigrahi, CDPO of Beguniapada ICDS office in Ganjam district.

Today , a short while ago, Smt. Sandhyarani Panigrahi, CDPO, Beguniapada, #Ganjam has been apprehended by #Odisha #Vigilance while taking bribe of Rs.12000/- from an Anganwadi Helper for release of arrear remuneration.

— Odisha Vigilance (@OdishaVigilance) November 27, 2024

According to official sources, CDPO Panigrahi had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 12,000 from the Anganwadi Helper as to release her arrear remuneration.

However, the complainant approached the Vigilance officials and sought action against the accused official.  

Based on the complaint, the anticorruption agency laid a trap and caught the CDPO red-handed while receiving the bribe money.

The entire bribe amount was seized from the possession of the accused CDPO in the presence of witness.

Following the trap, the Vigilance officials conducted simultaneous raids at various locations associated with the accused CDPO to unearth alleged disproportionate assets (DA) amassed by her, officials said.

A case has been registered under Section 7 PC (Amendment) Act, 2018, at the Berhampur Vigilance police station in this connection and further investigation is in progress against the accused, they added. 

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