Jeypore: Odisha Vigilance officials today apprehended a Peon of the Special Treasury Office in Jeypore, Koraput district, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe to facilitate the release of a widow’s pension arrears.

The accused, identified as Harischandra Mohapatra, was caught red-handed while accepting ₹47,000 as the second and final instalment of a total bribe demand of ₹87,000. He had sought the money from the widow of a deceased government employee to ensure the release of her arrear pension amounting to ₹3,48,000.

Earlier, Mohapatra had taken ₹40,000 as the first instalment and continued to pressure the complainant to pay the remaining ₹47,000, allegedly threatening to stall the release of her pension from September 2025, if she failed to comply.

Finding no alternative

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