The Odisha Vigilance has confiscated more than ₹28 lakh in cash from an auditor of the Regional Director of Education (RDE) office in Bhubaneswar, who was allegedly caught in the act of accepting a bribe.

On Tuesday, Ambika Prasad Rath was apprehended by the Odisha Vigilance team for demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹4,000 from a staff member of a degree college in Khurda district. The bribe was solicited for the verification of the staffer’s service records and for making necessary adjustments in the pay fixation statements under the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) scheme, according to the service book, to facilitate the disbursement of due pay.

Frustrated by the demand, the college staffer reported the issue to the vigilance authorities. In response to the complaint, a trap was set, and Rath was caught inside his office while receiving ₹4,000. The entire bribe amount was recovered from him in the presence of witnesses, and both of his hands tested positive for a chemical reaction, indicating he had handled the bribe money.

Following the sting operation, simultaneous searches were conducted at his residence in Madhusudan Nagar, Bhubaneswar, and his office. Vigilance officials discovered and seized ₹27,42,900 in cash from his home and an additional ₹1,28,000 from the drawer of his office desk during the raid.

A case has been filed at the Bhubaneswar Vigilance police station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, and further investigations are ongoing.