By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:Today i.e.on 14.11.2025, a short while ago, Sri Satyananda Behera, Asst. Director, Textiles, I/c Dy. Director Textiles, Subarnapur and Sri Ramakanta Meher, Secretary of a Weavers’ Co-operative Society under Ullunda Block, Dist. Subarnapur have been apprehended by Odisha Vigilance *for demand and acceptance of bribe Rs.36,000/- as an installment of overall demand of bribe Rs 80,000/- from trainees to release their training stipend amount.
The trainees were undergoing “Skill Up-Gradation Training on TIE & DYE making and Weaving under POHI (Promotion of Handloom Industry)”. As per the guideline of the scheme, a trainee gets Rs.200/-per day as stipend during the training period. As the training was about to end, the trainees were requesing the Asst. Director, Sri Behera, to release their stipend amount.
However, accused Sri Behera, Asst. Director demanded bribe Rs 80,000/- from the trainees for release of the stipend amount*. Being aggrieved over the issue, they reported the matter to Vigilance authorities. Acting on the complaint, a team of Odisha Vigilance nabbed the accused Sri Behera today, *while demanding and taking bribe Rs.36,000/- as 1st installment* of the overall demand of bribe Rs 80,000/-.*The entire tainted bribe money Rs.36,000/- has been recovered from them and seized*.
