Bhubaneswar, Aug 17 (IANS) Odisha Vigilance on Monday apprehended a doctor at Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar, while allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 for signing work certificates required for the release of salaries of employees engaged by an NGO at the hospital.
The accused doctor, identified as Dr Satyajit Behera, is posted as Assistant Surgeon at the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar.
According to the Odisha Vigilance, the NGO has been engaged by Capital Hospital to assist unknown and destitute patients visiting the casualty department for treatment. The NGO functionary has reportedly been requesting Dr Behera since June 2026 to sign the work certificates of its employees.
However, Dr Behera allegedly demanded Rs 30,000 from the NGO functionary for signing the certificates required for the withdrawal of the employees’ salaries for June and July 2026. Following the alleged demand, the NGO functionary approached the Vigilance authorities, who laid a trap on Monday and apprehended Dr Behera while he was allegedly accepting the bribe.
“Facing such bribe demand and harassment, the complainant reported the matter to vigilance authorities. On this, today, a team of Odisha Vigilance nabbed Dr Behera while taking a bribe of Rs 30,000 from the complainant. The tainted bribe money of Rs 30,000 has been recovered and seized from the possession of accused Dr Behera,” the vigilance informed.
The department further added that following the trap, simultaneous searches are being conducted at three locations linked to Dr Behera to ascertain his disproportionate assets. In this connection, Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station has registered Case (19/26) on August 16 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
The Vigilance Department said an investigation is underway against Dr Behera to ascertain further details of the case.
Notably, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has recently dismissed a doctor, Dr Patitapaban Barik, posted at Gurandi Community Health Centre (CHC) in Gajapati district, on corruption charges.
The decision came after Dr Barik was found guilty in a corruption case registered during his tenure as the Medical Officer of Gurundia Community Health Centre (CHC) in Sundargada district. The Chief Minister has directed the administration at all levels to adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption. He has repeatedly emphasised that no corrupt official will be spared.
–IANS
grm/uk
