Executive Officer of Khandapada NAC Caught Taking ₹20,000 Bribe in Nayagarh

Bhubaneswar: In a significant crackdown on corruption, Odisha Vigilance officials on Friday arrested Niranjan Dhal, Executive Officer of Khandapada NAC in Nayagarh district, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹20,000 from a local contractor.

According to the Vigilance department, Dhal had demanded the bribe in exchange for facilitating the release of the contractor’s pending bill. Acting on the contractor’s complaint, Vigilance officers laid a trap and apprehended Dhal red-handed at his official residence while accepting the bribe.

Officials confirmed that the entire bribe amount was recovered from Dhal’s possession and seized as evidence.

Simultaneous raids are currently underway at five locations linked to Dhal, as Vigilance teams probe possible disproportionate assets amassed by the officer.

A case has been registered against Dhal under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, at the Vigilance Police Station in Bhubaneswar. Investigations are ongoing.