Odisha Vigilance Arrests Government Doctor in Bribery Sting Operation
Vigilance officers in Odisha made a significant arrest on Friday. They caught a government doctor red-handed in Angul district. The doctor was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 49,000 from women community health officers. He demanded this money in exchange for clearing their incentive payments.
Details of the Alleged Corruption Scheme
The 46-year-old accused worked as a medical officer at the community health centre in Kaniha. Under the National Health Mission, community health officers receive monthly incentives. These payments range between Rs 12,000 and Rs 15,000. However, the doctor demanded approximately Rs 3,000 from each officer to release their dues.
When the women expressed their inability to pay, he allegedly withheld their files. This action effectively stalled the disbursement of their rightful incentives. The community health officers decided to take action against this injustice.
How the Trap Was Laid and Executed
The women lodged a formal complaint with Odisha vigilance last week. Acting on this tip-off, anti-corruption wing officers planned a careful operation. They laid a trap to catch the doctor in the act. As part of the plan, sixteen community health officers agreed to participate.
These officers collectively arranged to hand over Rs 49,000 to the doctor. During the planned operation at the community health centre, vigilance officers moved in. They caught the doctor red-handed while he was accepting the bribe money.
Immediate Actions Following the Arrest
Officers arrested the doctor immediately after catching him accepting the bribe. Following his arrest, vigilance teams conducted simultaneous searches at multiple locations. They searched his government quarters in Kaniha first. Then they moved to his wife's rented residence in Rourkela. Finally, they examined his office chamber at the health centre.
This case highlights ongoing efforts to combat corruption in government health services. It shows how vigilance departments respond to complaints from citizens. The arrest sends a strong message about consequences for demanding bribes from public servants.
