Odisha Vigilance seizes ₹5.16 lakh from ITI Principal's Rourkela flat
Synopsis
Odisha Vigilance's crackdown on government corruption intensified on Saturday with the seizure of ₹5.16 lakh from an ITI Principal's flat in Rourkela — a day after a Sub-Registrar was caught red-handed accepting a bribe to register a land deed. Two operations, 24 hours apart, targeting officials from education and revenue departments signal a widening anti-corruption sweep across Odisha.
Key Takeaways
Odisha Vigilance seized ₹5.16 lakh in cash from the Rourkela flat of Suresh Kumar Dalabehera , Principal of Government ITI, Balangir , on 7 November 2026 .
Dalabehera had earlier been caught allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹30,000 from guest instructors to continue their services and ensure salary disbursement.
Searches at multiple locations linked to Dalabehera are still ongoing.
Miss Manisha Mishra , Sub-Registrar at Baliapal, Baleshwar district , was arrested on Friday for allegedly accepting a ₹7,000 bribe to register a 0.14-acre plot recorded as Bajyapti Stithiban.
The accused Sub-Registrar had originally demanded ₹10,000 before reducing the amount; both bribe amounts were recovered and seized.
Odisha Vigilance officials recovered and seized an additional ₹5.16 lakh in cash from the residential flat of Suresh Kumar Dalabehera, Principal of Government ITI, Balangir, located in Rourkela, during ongoing searches on Saturday, 7 November 2026. The seizure follows an earlier trap operation in which Dalabehera was caught allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹30,000 from guest instructors.
How the Trap Was Laid
According to Odisha Vigilance, Dalabehera had allegedly demanded ₹30,000 from guest instructors in exchange for facilitating the continuation of their services and ensuring the regular disbursement of their salaries. A Vigilance team caught him in the act, triggering a broader investigation into his assets and properties.
Cash Recovery from Rourkela Flat
Following the trap operation, Vigilance officials launched searches at multiple locations linked to the accused. During searches at Dalabehera's residential flat in Rourkela, officials uncovered the additional ₹5.16 lakh in cash, which was subsequently seized. The searches were still underway as of Saturday, with officials indicating that further details are awaited.
Second Arrest: Sub-Registrar Nabbed for Bribe in Baleshwar
In a separate operation on Friday, Odisha Vigilance apprehended Miss Manisha Mishra, an Odisha Revenue Services (ORS) officer currently posted as Sub-Registrar at Baliapal in Baleshwar district, while she was allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹7,000. The accused had reportedly demanded ₹10,000 from a complainant seeking registration of a 0.14-acre plot recorded as 'Bajyapti Stithiban'.
When the complainant expressed his inability to pay the full amount, Mishra allegedly reduced her demand to ₹7,000. As per guidelines issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management (R&DM) Department, land of the Bajyapti Stithiban category is eligible for registration and is to be treated as Stithiban — making the alleged bribe demand a clear violation of departmental guidelines, according to Vigilance officials.
Pattern of Crackdown
These two operations are part of a continuing crackdown by Odisha Vigilance on corrupt government officials across the state. The back-to-back arrests within 24 hours — spanning an educational institution principal and a revenue services officer — point to a broad-based enforcement push rather than isolated action. The entire tainted bribe amount of ₹7,000 was recovered from Mishra's possession and seized at the time of her arrest. Both cases remain under active investigation.
Point of View
It could serve as a deterrent — but only if prosecutions follow arrests at the same pace.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Suresh Kumar Dalabehera and why was he arrested?
Suresh Kumar Dalabehera is the Principal of Government ITI, Balangir, and was caught by Odisha Vigilance while allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹30,000 from guest instructors. He had reportedly demanded the money to facilitate continuation of their services and ensure timely salary disbursement. Subsequent searches of his Rourkela flat uncovered an additional ₹5.16 lakh in cash.
How much cash was seized from the ITI Principal's flat in Rourkela?
Odisha Vigilance officials recovered and seized ₹5.16 lakh in cash from Dalabehera's residential flat in Rourkela during ongoing searches on 7 November 2026. The searches were still underway at the time of reporting.
Who is Manisha Mishra and what was she accused of?
Miss Manisha Mishra is an Odisha Revenue Services officer posted as Sub-Registrar at Baliapal in Baleshwar district. She was arrested on Friday after allegedly demanding and accepting ₹7,000 from a complainant to allow registration of a 0.14-acre plot classified as Bajyapti Stithiban — a category that is eligible for registration under existing R&DM Department guidelines.
What is 'Bajyapti Stithiban' land and why does it matter in this case?
Bajyapti Stithiban is a land classification under Odisha revenue records. As per Revenue and Disaster Management Department guidelines, such land is to be treated as Stithiban and is eligible for registration. The accused Sub-Registrar allegedly refused to act on these guidelines and demanded a bribe, making the act a violation of both departmental rules and anti-corruption law.
What is the current status of the Odisha Vigilance investigation?
Searches at locations linked to Dalabehera were still ongoing as of Saturday, 7 November 2026, with Vigilance officials continuing their investigation. In the Manisha Mishra case, the full tainted bribe amount of ₹7,000 was recovered and seized at the time of her arrest. Further details in both cases are awaited.
