In a major anti-corruption operation, Odisha Vigilance on Friday caught Dr. Sumanta Kumar Patel, Medical Officer at Kaniha Community Health Centre in Angul, red-handed while allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 49,000.
Sources said Dr. Patel took the bribe in exchange for sanctioning incentive payments for Community Health Officers (CHOs). The entire amount was recovered on the spot in the presence of witnesses.
Following the arrest, Vigilance teams conducted searches at three locations linked to Dr. Patel in connection with disproportionate assets (DA) investigations, with further details awaited.
A case has been registered against him at Cuttack Vigilance Police Station (Vigilance PS Case No. 02 dated January 15, 2026) under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. The investigation is ongoing, and officials said a detailed report would be released after completion of searches and record examination.
