Sundargarh, May 27: Odisha Vigilance on Wednesday apprehended Sumanta Naik, Junior Engineer (JE) under the National Health Mission (NHM), Office of CDM & PHO, Sundargarh, while accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 from a contractor, officials said.

The accused JE allegedly demanded the bribe to facilitate the release of the contractor’s Initial Security Deposit (ISD), which had been submitted for repair and renovation works of a Primary Health Centre (PHC) building and staff quarters in Sundargarh district.

In a separate operation today, #Odisha #Vigilance nabbed Sumanta Naik, J.E.,NHM, O/o CDM & PHO, #Sundargarh while taking bribe Rs.5,000 from a contractor for release of security deposit related to repair & renovation works of PHC building & staff quarters in Sundargarh district .

— Odisha Vigilance (@OdishaVigilance) May 27, 2026

Despite the completion of the project, Naik reportedly withheld the file for release of the ISD amount, insisting on illegal gratification. The contractor, unwilling to comply, reported the matter to vigilance authorities. Acting on the complaint, a team of Odisha Vigilance laid a trap and caught Naik red-handed in his office while accepting the bribe.

The tainted money was recovered from his possession and seized as evidence.

Following the successful trap, simultaneous searches are being conducted at three locations linked to Naik to investigate disproportionate assets. A case has been registered under Rourkela Vigilance P.S Case No. 03/2026, U/s 7 PC (Amendment) Act, 2018, and further investigation is underway.

Notably, Odisha Vigilance continued to curb corruption and ensure accountability in public service, particularly in critical sectors such as health infrastructure.