In a major development, Ashwini Kumar Panda, the Tehsildar of Bamra, Sambalpur, Odisha, was arrested by the Vigilance team on Friday. The arrest was made on charges of bribery, with Panda allegedly accepting a sum of 15,000 rupees. This bribe was part of a larger demand for 20,000 rupees from a farmer, related to the conversion of agricultural land to residential land.
The Vigilance department acted on a complaint and laid a trap, resulting in the apprehension of Panda and his driver, P. Pravin Kumar, while the bribe was being exchanged. Both were immediately detained, and the bribe money was confiscated.
Ashwini Kumar Panda, a 29-year-old officer, had a distinguished academic background. He had successfully cleared the Odisha Civil Service examination in 2019 without the aid of coaching. Before this incident, he was considered a promising figure in the state’s administrative circles.
Panda’s educational journey includes schooling at Janakalyan High School and studies at Ravenshaw University. He holds a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from a college in Brahmapur. Before entering government service, he worked in Delhi for three years.
Following the arrest, a raid at Panda’s residence yielded a significant amount of cash – 4.73 lakh rupees. Authorities are currently investigating the origin and source of this money. The case has garnered considerable public attention, with many expressing shock and disappointment at the turn of events.