Koraput: Vigilance officials arrested two agriculture department officers in Umerkote, Nabarangpur district, on Sunday after they were caught red-handed accepting a ₹5,000 bribe from a beneficiary to process a subsidy under the Jalanidhi scheme.
The arrested officials have been identified as Nilakantha Parida, assistant agriculture officer, and Surendrasingh Bundela, block technology manager, officials said.
According to avigilance release, the duo had demanded the bribe for crediting a subsidy amount meant for the construction of a borewell on the complainant’s land. Acting on the complaint, a vigilance team laid a trap on Sunday, arresting both officials and recovering the entire bribe money from their possession in the presence of witnesses.
Following the arrest, simultaneous searches were conducted at their rented residences in Dhadra, Parida’s parental house in Jagatsinghpur district, and their office premises.
An investigation is underway, and further details are awaited, the release added. Meanwhile, authorities have urged the public to report any instances of bribery to promote transparency in govt processes.