Bhubaneswar, 20 August (H.S.): The Odisha Vigilance on Thursday apprehended Manoj Ranjan Nayak, Block Programme Manager (NHM) at Kujang Community Health Centre (CHC) in Jagatsinghpur district, for allegedly demanding and accepting a ₹20,000 bribe from an ASHA worker.

According to the Vigilance department, Nayak allegedly demanded the money by threatening to prematurely terminate the ASHA worker’s service over an alleged discrepancy in her date of birth mentioned in her Aadhaar card.

The complainant reportedly had two more years of service based on the date of birth recorded in her School Leaving Certificate—May 17, 1966—which she had submitted at the time of her appointment as an ASHA worker. However, Nayak allegedly cited an error in her subsequently issued Aadhaar card and threatened to end her service unless she paid the bribe.

Unable to bear the alleged harassment, the complainant approached the Odisha Vigilance authorities. Acting on the complaint, Vigilance officials laid a trap on Thursday and caught Nayak while he was allegedly accepting ₹20,000 from the complainant.

The entire tainted bribe amount of ₹20,000 was recovered from Nayak’s possession and seized.

Following the trap, simultaneous searches were launched at two locations linked to the accused as part of a disproportionate assets inquiry.

In connection with the case, Kataka Vigilance Police Station Case No. 31 dated August 19, 2026, has been registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.

Further investigation into the allegations against Nayak is underway.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda