Argus News - Odisha Vigilance Nabs Senior Clerk Taking Bribe in Bhawanipatna

Bhawanipatna, Nov 16: Odisha Vigilance officials apprehended T. Bhenkatagiri Rao, Senior Clerk of the RWS&S Division, Bhawanipatna, District Kalahandi, while he was allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹20,000 from a retired staffer for processing pension papers.

According to vigilance sources, the complainant had retired on March 31, 2024, and had been repeatedly requesting Rao to prepare his pension documents. Despite several appeals, Rao allegedly delayed the process and insisted on a bribe of ₹20,000 to move the file forward. Aggrieved by the harassment, the retired employee reported the matter to Odisha Vigilance, leading to a planned trap.

The vigilance officers caught Rao red-handed at his government quarter in Bhawanipatna while accepting the bribe amount. In a dramatic turn, Rao attempted to dispose of the tainted cash by throwing it out of the window upon spotting the vigilance team. However, the officers swiftly recovered the entire amount and seized it as evidence.

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Following the successful operation, simultaneous searches were launched at three locations linked to Rao to investigate disproportionate assets. A case has been registered under Koraput Vigilance PS Case No. 34 dated 12.11.2025, U/S 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.

Officials confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and further details will be shared once searches and inquiries are completed. The vigilance department reiterated its commitment to cracking down on corruption and ensuring transparency in government offices, particularly in matters concerning pensionary benefits for retired employees.