Nimapada, Nov 29: In a major anti-corruption operation, the Odisha Vigilance Department arrested Bijay Kumar Grahacharya, Amin, Nimapara NAC, Puri, while accepting a bribe of ₹17,000.

The arrest was carried out by an eight-member vigilance team Friday, following a complaint lodged by a local resident.

According to the complaint, Raghunath Das of Gadatariha village under Nimapada block had submitted all necessary documents to the NAC office for approval of design and plan to construct a new house on his land at College Road, Bhuvanipur. Despite submitting the papers long ago, the approval was deliberately delayed.

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It was alleged that Officer Grahacharya demanded a total of ₹30,000 to clear the file. He had already collected ₹3,000 in the first installment and another ₹10,000 later. On Friday, while receiving the remaining ₹17,000 from the complainant, the vigilance team caught him red-handed.

Following the arrest, simultaneous raids were conducted at his office and residence in Nimapada. Sources said vigilance officials are examining documents and assets to determine disproportionate property holdings.

“Today, Sri Bijay Kumar Grahacharya, Amin, Nimapara NAC, Puri has been apprehended by #Odisha #Vigilance while taking bribe Rs 17,000/- as an instalment of overall demand Rs 30,000/- from an applicant for processing the file for approval of a building plan,” Odisha Vigilance wrote in a post on social media (X).

“In this connection, Bhubaneswar Vigilance P.S. Case No. 26 dated 28.11.2025 U/s 7 P.C. (Amendment) Act, 2018 has been registered.  Investigation is in progress,” the post reads further.

The vigilance department has intensified its crackdown on corruption in government offices, particularly in cases where public services are delayed due to illegal demands. The vigilance operation is expected to send a strong message across the administrative machinery in Odisha.