AFO in Ganjam Held for Taking ₹8,000 Bribe via Digital Payment

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance officials on Wednesday apprehended Assistant Fisheries Officer (AFO) Suresh Kumar Behera of Polasara, Ganjam district, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹8,000 through a digital payment platform.

According to Vigilance sources, Behera had demanded the bribe from a beneficiary of the Assistance to Network Fish Seed Growers Scheme to release a subsidy of about ₹1.38 lakh and issue a money receipt for the procurement of fish spawn.

The complainant, entitled to 60% subsidy under the scheme, had invested ₹2.31 lakh, including ₹43,000 paid via Behera for purchasing spawn from the government hatchery at Bhanjanagar. However, Behera allegedly withheld the receipt and delayed the subsidy release, later demanding a bribe through PhonePe.

Acting on the complaint, Vigilance officials laid a trap and caught Behera red-handed during the digital transaction. His mobile phone used for receiving the payment was seized.

Simultaneous searches were carried out at his residences to trace any disproportionate assets.

A case has been registered at Berhampur Vigilance Police Station (Case No. 15/2025) under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.

The investigation is underway.