In a major anti-corruption action, the Odisha Vigilance on Monday arrested two government engineers of the Udala Lift Irrigation Division in Mayurbhanj while they were allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 60,000 from a local contractor.
According to sources, the arrested officials have been identified as Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Harekrushna Singh and Junior Engineer (JE) Subrat Mohanty. They were reportedly demanding the bribe in exchange for clearing bills amounting to around Rs 42 lakh related to irrigation project works.
Vigilance officials laid a trap and caught both engineers red-handed while receiving the bribe amount. Following the arrests, further legal procedures were initiated, and searches were carried out to ascertain whether the officials were involved in similar corrupt practices in the past.
The incident underscores the Vigilance wing’s continued efforts to curb corruption and promote transparency in government departments. The arrests have triggered widespread discussion in the region, with calls for strict action against corrupt officials.
Officials noted that the Odisha Vigilance wing has recently achieved a significant milestone by breaking a two-decade-old record in anti-corruption action. Guided by the state government’s policy of zero tolerance towards corruption, the agency has intensified its enforcement drive across Odisha.
Between April and December 2025, the state government directed Vigilance to investigate 125 cases—an unprecedented figure that reflects the administration’s renewed commitment to accountability and clean governance.
