Baripada: A field assistant, presently working in the office of Assistant Director, Sericulture at Baripada of Mayurbhanj district, was caught red-handed today by Odisha Vigilance while accepting a bribe.
Separate teams of Vigilance sleuths carried out simultaneous raids on three different places linked to the field assistant identified as Bibhuti Kumar Mallick, following the trap and arrest.
Mallick has been apprehended by Odisha Vigilance while demanding and accepting a bribe Rs 1,50,000 from a member of the Rural Research Development Council in Mayurbhanj for submitting a feasibility report in his favour for tussar silkworm plantation in 1,500 hectares in Bisoi of Kusumi and Bahalda blocks under District Minerals Fund (DMF) in the district, a Vigilance press release stated.
The entire bribe money was recovered from the possession of Mallick and later seized.
Simultaneous searches are underway at three locations of Mallick from a DA angle, an official said.
Balasore Vigilance PS case (No-34, dated 29.12.2023, U/s-7 of the PC (Amendment) Act, 2018 has been registered in this connection. A detailed investigation is in progress against the accused Mallick.