Kalahandi PMAY Scam: Block Accountant Arrested for Bribery

In a significant blow to grassroots corruption, Odisha Vigilance apprehended a high-ranking block official in Kalahandi district today, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The arrest highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring that central welfare schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) reach their intended beneficiaries without illegal interference.

The Arrest and Trap

The accused has been identified as Debendra Sahoo, who served as the Accountant-cum-Data Entry Operator (ADEO) of the Junagarh Block. According to official reports, Sahoo was apprehended while allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹6,000.

The Vigilance team acted on a complaint filed by a local beneficiary who had been selected for a house under the PMAY scheme. The complainant alleged that despite being eligible and selected, Sahoo had been deliberately stalling the file for the past week, demanding a "commission" to process the final sanction.

Recovery and Legal Action

Following the successful trap, Vigilance officials recovered the entire ₹6,000 in tainted notes from Sahoo's possession. Key details of the legal proceedings include:

Case Registration: A case has been registered at the Koraput Vigilance Police Station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
Property Searches: Simultaneous searches were launched at two separate locations linked to the accused to investigate potential disproportionate assets.
Custody: Sahoo has been taken into custody and will be forwarded to the competent court in Bhawanipatna following preliminary interrogation.

A Pattern of Crackdown

This incident is not isolated. In a similar operation today, another official—identified as an ADEO in Atigaon panchayat—was also caught accepting a ₹6,000 bribe for a PMAY house in a separate case. These frequent arrests underscore a systemic issue within the Junagarh block administration where low-income citizens are being extorted for access to basic housing rights.

Odisha Vigilance has reiterated its commitment to a "zero-tolerance" policy regarding the exploitation of the poor through government schemes. Officials have urged citizens to report any such demands to the anti-corruption helpline immediately.