Bargarh/Koraput: In a significant anti-corruption operation, Odisha Vigilance has nabbed two government engineers in bribery charges.
While Susmita Oram, a Junior Engineer (JE) posted at Gaisilet Block in Bargarh district was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 8,000, Assistant Engineer (AE) of Lamtaput Block in Koraput district Suchismita Parija was nabbed for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 8,000.
Oram had joined the government service under DRDA, Bargarh on January 10, 2024, and is working as a JE at Gaisilet Block since January 29, 2024. This was her first posting. Oram was demanding Rs 32,000 from a contractor (complainant) for measurement and clearing of pending bills related to road improvement work under MGNREGS.
The estimated cost of the work was Rs 9,50,000, out of which bills worth Rs 3.15 lakh had already been paid. The JE was demanding a bribe of 10% of the paid bill amount. She had earlier accepted Rs 24,000 and was caught while taking the remaining Rs 8,000.
Finding no other option, the complainant approached the Vigilance authorities, alleging harassment by the JE. Following this, a trap was laid, and Oram was caught while taking the remaining bribe amount. The entire sum was recovered from her exclusive possession and seized.
Following the trap, simultaneous searches are underway at two locations linked to Oram from the Disproportionate Assets (DA) angle. Sambalpur Vigilance Police Station registered Case No. 11 dated June 9, 2025, under Section 7 of the PC (Amendment) Act, 2018. Further investigation is in progress.
Similarly, Parija was reportedly demanding a total of Rs 15,000 from a local villager to facilitate the release of a payment under the MGNREG scheme. According to Vigilance officials, Parija had previously received Rs 5,000 from the complainant and was pressuring the individual to pay the remaining Rs 10,000. The accused was caught red-handed accepting the final installment of Rs 8,000 at her government residence in Lamtaput.
The entire bribe amount was recovered from Smt. Parija’s possession and has been seized. Following the arrest, simultaneous searches are being conducted at three locations linked to her to investigate potential disproportionate assets.
A case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, has been registered at the Koraput Vigilance Police Station (Case No. 22/2025). The investigation is ongoing, and further details are awaited.
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