Berhampur, Jun 13: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) caught a senior official of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) regional office in Berhampur red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000.

According to reports, the arrest took place near a shop in Lanjipalli, where CBI officials trapped and detained the officer before transferring him to Bhubaneswar for further investigation.

The accused has been identified as EPFO Public Relations Officer (PRO) Anil Pati.

Pati reportedly solicited bribes in exchange for approving digital signatures required for company registrations.

The victim, a young entrepreneur had been struggling for three months to get his digital signature authorised despite multiple visits to the EPFO office. Frustrated, he approached the CBI, leading to a sting operation.

The businessman arranged to meet Pati at a local eatery, where after casual refreshments, he handed over Rs 10,000 as an initial payment for processing two company applications. As soon as the transaction was completed, undercover CBI officials apprehended Pati with the bribe money in his possession.

Investigations are underway to determine if there was a broader pattern of corruption within the office. The CBI has urged other individuals with similar grievances to come forward and report any illegal demands.

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