Odisha Vigilance arrests junior engineer, aide for ₹1.36 lakh bribe in Nayagarh
Synopsis
Odisha Vigilance caught a junior engineer and his private associate red-handed inside a government quarter in Khandapara, recovering ₹1.36 lakh in bribe money meant to unlock road-work bill clearances and security deposit refunds stalled for months — with 17 demonetised ₹2,000 notes also seized during follow-up searches.
Key Takeaways
Odisha Vigilance arrested Keshab Subudhi , Junior Engineer at Bhapur Rural Works Section, and private associate Ashutosh Baliarsingh on 17 May 2025 .
The bribe of ₹1.36 lakh was allegedly demanded to clear contractor bills and release security deposits under MMSY (Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojana) for 2021–22 works in Khandapara, Nayagarh .
The contractor had been pursuing the matter for three to four months before approaching vigilance authorities.
The duo was caught red-handed at Subudhi's official residential quarter; the full bribe amount was recovered in the presence of witnesses.
17 old ₹2,000 notes were seized during a search of Subudhi's government quarters; searches also covered his Bhubaneswar flat and office.
Odisha Vigilance on Sunday, 17 May arrested two persons — including a junior engineer posted at a rural works section — while they were allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹1.36 lakh from a contractor in Khandapara, Nayagarh district. The money was demanded in exchange for clearing pending bills and releasing security deposits tied to road works under the Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojana (MMSY) for the year 2021–22.
The Accused and the Allegation
The two persons arrested are Keshab Subudhi, a Junior Engineer posted at the Bhapur Rural Works Section in Nayagarh district, and Ashutosh Baliarsingh, a private individual who was reportedly acting as Subudhi's supervisor. According to a senior vigilance official, the duo was caught red-handed inside Subudhi's official residential quarter at Khandapara while receiving the bribe amount from the complainant contractor.
'On Sunday, Subudhi, along with his associate Baliarsingh, has been apprehended by Odisha Vigilance while taking bribe of Rs 1,36,000 from a contractor in lieu of clearing bills of the construction and maintenance work under MMSY for the year 2021–22 in the Khandapara area of Nayagarh district and to refund the security deposit,' the senior vigilance official said.
How the Demand Escalated
Under government rules, the Initial Security Deposit (ISD) along with the security deposit is returned to a contractor after the maintenance period ends — provided measurements of the maintenance works have been duly recorded. The deposit stands forfeited if measurements are not taken.
According to vigilance officials, the contractor had been repeatedly approaching Subudhi for the past three to four months, requesting that measurements be taken and the security deposit released. Instead of acting on the request, Subudhi allegedly demanded ₹1.36 lakh as a bribe to process the measurements and clear the pending bills. Aggrieved by the demand, the contractor lodged a complaint with the Odisha Vigilance.
The Trap and the Arrest
Acting on the contractor's complaint, vigilance sleuths laid a trap on Sunday. Subudhi reportedly called the contractor to his official quarters at Khandapara and instructed him to hand the bribe money to Baliarsingh, who was present at the location. The entire amount of ₹1,36,000 was recovered from the accused in the presence of witnesses, officials said.
Searches and Seizures
Following the arrest, simultaneous searches were conducted at three locations: Subudhi's government quarters in Khandapara, a flat at Metro Apartment in Hanspal, Bhubaneswar, and his office. During the search of his government quarters, 17 old ₹2,000 notes were seized. Further investigation is under way.
The case adds to a pattern of vigilance actions against government functionaries in Odisha's public works infrastructure, where contractors have repeatedly flagged delays in bill clearances and deposit refunds as leverage points for corrupt demands.
Point of View
The power to take or withhold measurements — becomes a monetised chokepoint in public works. The contractor waited three to four months before approaching vigilance, suggesting the default expectation is to pay and move on. Odisha Vigilance has been active, but trap-based arrests address individual actors, not the structural incentive that makes measurement delays a reliable extortion tool. Until bill-clearance timelines are automated and auditable, the leverage will persist regardless of how many junior engineers are caught.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested by Odisha Vigilance in the Nayagarh bribe case?
Odisha Vigilance arrested Junior Engineer Keshab Subudhi , posted at the Bhapur Rural Works Section in Nayagarh, and his associate Ashutosh Baliarsingh , a private individual. Both were caught allegedly accepting ₹1.36 lakh in bribe money from a contractor on 17 May 2025.
Why was the bribe demanded from the contractor?
According to vigilance officials, Subudhi demanded ₹1.36 lakh to take measurements of completed maintenance works and clear pending contractor bills, as well as to facilitate the refund of the security deposit under the Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojana (MMSY) for 2021–22. Without the measurements, the deposit could be forfeited under government rules.
How did Odisha Vigilance catch the accused?
After the contractor filed a complaint detailing months of harassment, vigilance officials laid a trap on Sunday. Subudhi called the contractor to his official quarters at Khandapara and directed him to hand the money to Baliarsingh. The entire amount was recovered from the accused in the presence of witnesses.
What was found during the searches after the arrest?
Simultaneous searches were conducted at Subudhi's government quarters in Khandapara, a flat at Metro Apartment in Hanspal, Bhubaneswar, and his office. Seventeen old ₹2,000 notes were seized from his government quarters; further investigation is ongoing.
What is the Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojana (MMSY)?
MMSY, or Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojana, is an Odisha state government scheme for rural road construction and maintenance. Contractors working under the scheme are entitled to a refund of their security deposits after the maintenance period ends and measurements are duly recorded by the designated engineer.
