CBI, Odisha Vigilance nab two officials in separate bribery cases
Synopsis
Two Odisha government officials were caught red-handed in separate bribery traps on 8 October 2026 — an EMRS school principal who allegedly demanded ₹20,000 (settled for ₹12,000) to extend a nurse's service, and a Samagra Shiksha programmer who allegedly blocked a contractor's bills until he paid ₹30,000. Both cases expose how mid-level gatekeeping roles in education administration remain fertile ground for petty corruption.
Key Takeaways
Krishna Murthy Naidu , Principal of EMRS Nuapada , on 7 October 2026 for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹12,000 , down from an initial demand of ₹20,000 .
The bribe was sought for recommending an Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery (ANM) employee's service extension at the school.
Odisha Vigilance on 8 October 2026 nabbed Chandrajit Parija , a Programmer at SSA Jagatsinghpur , while accepting ₹30,000 to clear pending bills for digital blackboard installation.
House searches were launched at three locations linked to Parija from a disproportionate assets angle.
A case ( 39/26 ) has been registered against Parija at Kataka Vigilance Police Station .
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Odisha Vigilance on Thursday, 8 October 2026, apprehended two public servants in separate bribery stings across Odisha — one at an Eklavya Model Residential School in Nuapada district and another at a Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan office in Jagatsinghpur district. Both accused were caught red-handed while allegedly accepting illegal payments from complainants.
CBI Trap in Nuapada
The CBI registered a case on 7 October 2026 against C. Krishna Murthy Naidu, Principal of the Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS), Nuapada, on allegations that he had demanded a bribe of ₹20,000 from a complainant in exchange for recommending her name for extension of service as an Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery (ANM) at the school. After negotiation, the accused allegedly agreed to accept ₹12,000. Acting on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap on 7 October and apprehended Naidu red-handed while accepting the reduced bribe amount, according to the agency's statement.
Odisha Vigilance Strikes in Jagatsinghpur
In a separate action, the Odisha Vigilance on Thursday nabbed Chandrajit Parija, a Programmer posted at the office of DEO-CUM-DPC (District Project Coordinator), Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Jagatsinghpur, while he was allegedly receiving a bribe of ₹30,000 from a contractor. The complainant had been awaiting clearance of pending bills related to the installation of digital blackboards in schools across Jagatsinghpur district.
According to the Odisha Vigilance, Parija — as a member of the procurement and technical committee — was responsible for inspecting installation works, on whose certification bills are released. "Despite several requests by the executant (Complainant), Parija did not take steps to inspect the work done by the complainant. Instead, accused Parija demanded a bribe of ₹30,000 from the complainant for clearing pending bills," the Odisha Vigilance said in a statement.
Searches Underway, Case Registered
Following the trap, simultaneous house searches were launched at three locations linked to Parija from a disproportionate assets angle. A case (39/26) has been registered against Parija at the Kataka Vigilance Police Station on Wednesday. Investigators are examining whether his assets are disproportionate to his known income.
Pattern of Corruption in Public Education
Notably, both cases involve officials working within the public education and school administration ecosystem — a sector that handles significant welfare and infrastructure funds. This comes amid sustained anti-corruption drives by central and state agencies across Odisha. The cases highlight ongoing systemic vulnerabilities, where officials in low-oversight roles can allegedly extract payments from vendors and service-seekers dependent on their approvals. Both accused are expected to face formal charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Point of View
A programmer who certifies installation work — carry outsized informal power over dependent beneficiaries. The fact that the Jagatsinghpur arrest triggered simultaneous searches at three locations from a disproportionate assets angle suggests investigators believe this may not be an isolated demand. Odisha has seen multiple vigilance actions in recent months, but the structural fix — reducing single-point human approval bottlenecks — remains elusive across state schemes.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested by the CBI in the Odisha bribery case?
The CBI arrested C. Krishna Murthy Naidu, Principal of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) in Nuapada, Odisha, on 7 October 2026. He was allegedly caught red-handed accepting a bribe of ₹12,000 to recommend a nurse's service extension.
Why was the EMRS principal demanding a bribe?
According to the CBI, Naidu allegedly demanded ₹20,000 from a complainant to recommend her name for extension of service as an Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery (ANM) at EMRS Nuapada. After negotiation, he reportedly agreed to accept ₹12,000.
Who did Odisha Vigilance arrest in Jagatsinghpur?
Odisha Vigilance arrested Chandrajit Parija, a Programmer at the SSA (Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan) district office in Jagatsinghpur, on 8 October 2026. He was allegedly accepting ₹30,000 from a contractor whose digital blackboard installation bills he had withheld.
What is the status of the case against Chandrajit Parija?
A case numbered 39/26 has been registered against Parija at Kataka Vigilance Police Station. Simultaneous house searches are underway at three locations linked to him as investigators examine potential disproportionate assets.
What laws are the accused likely to be charged under?
Both accused are expected to face charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, which governs bribery and misconduct by public servants in India. Parija also faces a disproportionate assets inquiry, which carries separate legal consequences.
