What Led to the Arrest of OAS Topper and Two Others in Odisha’s Corruption Scandal?
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Synopsis
In recent events, the Odisha Vigilance has taken significant action against corruption by arresting three government officials, including a 2019 OAS topper. This article uncovers the details behind these shocking arrests and highlights the broader implications for governance and accountability in Odisha.
Key Takeaways
- Corruption in public service is still prevalent.
- Accountability is crucial for effective governance.
- Bribery undermines the integrity of government officials.
- Vigilance authorities play a key role in combating corruption.
- Citizen reports are vital for action against corrupt practices.
Bhubaneswar, Sep 12 (NationPress) In a major turn of events, the Odisha Vigilance apprehended three government officials, including a prominent 2019-batch topper of the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS), due to distinct corruption allegations.
On September 12, Aswini Kumar Panda, an OAS Tahasildar stationed in Bamra, Sambalpur district, was detained for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 from a complainant for the conversion of agricultural land into homestead land pertaining to a mutation case,” stated a senior official from the Vigilance.
The official elaborated that the complainant had been seeking assistance from the accused Tahasildar for about a month regarding the land conversion.
However, Panda initially demanded Rs 20,000 for the approval of the conversion and the issuance of RoRs in favor of the complainant.
When the complainant expressed his inability to pay the inflated bribe, Panda lowered the demand to Rs 15,000 and threatened to halt the conversion process otherwise.
With no alternatives left, the complainant reported the issue to the Vigilance authorities.
“Acting on the complaint, the Vigilance team set a trap and caught the accused OAS officer in his office while accepting the bribe of Rs 15,000 from the complainant through his office driver, P. Praveen Kumar.
The complete bribe amount was confiscated,” the official noted.
Following the arrest, simultaneous searches were conducted at Panda's residence on May-Fair Road, Bhubaneswar, where his family resides, as well as at the PWD and IB offices in Bamra.
During the search, police recovered Rs 4,73,000 in cash from his residence on May-Fair Road, Bhubaneswar.
Both Panda and his driver, P. Praveen Kumar, were subsequently arrested and presented before the Court.
Panda, who topped the Odisha Civil Services in 2019, began his government service as a Training Reserve Officer (TRO) in OAS-I (JB) on December 30, 2021, in the Collector's office in Balasore.
He has been serving as Tahasildar of Bamra since July 1, 2025. In a related case, the Odisha Vigilance also apprehended Chittaranjan Rout, the District Labour Officer of Nayagarh, on the same day after he was caught taking a bribe of Rs 6,000 from 20 poor daily wage workers for processing their labour cards.
According to Vigilance sources, Rout had refused to issue labour cards unless he received the demanded bribe.
Due to the workers' inability to pay, the issuance of the cards was delayed for almost a year, prompting one of the daily wagers to approach the Vigilance officials for intervention.
On that same day, Puspita Mahakud, a former Panchayat Executive Officer from Luhasila Gram Panchayat under Bijatola Block of Mayurbhanj district, was arrested by Vigilance officials for misappropriating over Rs 5.68 lakh intended for distribution to senior citizens as Old Age Pension.
Point of View
The recent arrests by the Odisha Vigilance underscore the critical need for accountability in public service. It highlights not only the ongoing battle against corruption but also the importance of transparency and integrity in governance. As we continue to witness such cases, it reinforces the belief that vigilance is paramount in ensuring a corruption-free administration.
NationPress
13/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested by the Odisha Vigilance?
Three government officials, including a 2019 OAS topper, were arrested in separate corruption cases.
What was the reason behind the arrests?
The arrests were made due to allegations of bribery involving land conversion and issuance of labor cards.
What was the amount of bribes involved?
The accused officials were involved in bribes of Rs 15,000 and Rs 6,000.
Who is Aswini Kumar Panda?
Aswini Kumar Panda is a Tahasildar who topped the Odisha Civil Services in 2019.
What was the outcome of the investigations?
The Vigilance authorities conducted searches and confiscated cash, leading to the arrest of the officials.
