TNI Bureau: In a significant anti-corruption crackdown, Odisha Vigilance has arrested Ambika Prasad Rath, an Auditor in the Office of the Regional Director of Education (RDE), Bhubaneswar, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹4,000.

According to Vigilance officials, Rath was caught red-handed while taking the bribe from a college staffer to facilitate the drawal of pay under the MACP (Modified Assured Career Progression) scheme. He is being produced before the Court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar.

Following the trap, simultaneous searches were conducted at his residence in Madhusudan Nagar and his office chamber. During the raids, Vigilance teams unearthed and seized a total of ₹28,70,900 in cash – ₹27,42,900 from his residence and ₹1,28,000 from his office drawer. Officials stated that Rath failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the recovered amount.

Rath, born on April 18, 1971, had joined government service as an Auditor in the RDE office on June 26, 2000, with an initial salary of ₹6,000. He has been serving in the same post for over 25 years.

Further investigation into the case is underway.