BARGARH, Odisha – April 5, 2025

Summary:

Nupur Seth, a Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) in Bargarh district, Odisha, and her husband, Bed Prakash Biswal, were arrested by the state's Vigilance department around March 25, 2025. They are accused of demanding and accepting a ₹5,000 bribe from a Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) beneficiary to include them in the housing scheme list. The couple was apprehended in a trap set by Vigilance after the beneficiary filed a complaint. An investigation, including searches for disproportionate assets, is currently in progress.

Key Points:

• Arrested: Nupur Seth (PEO, Gyan Gram Panchayat, Bargarh) and her husband Bed Prakash Biswal.
• Agency: Arrested by Odisha Vigilance (state anti-corruption wing).
• Allegation: Demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹5,000 (negotiated down from ₹10,000).
• Purpose of Bribe: To include an eligible person in the PMAY beneficiary list.
• Action: Caught red-handed in a vigilance trap following a complaint from the beneficiary.
• Outcome: Couple detained; alleged bribe money recovered.
• Current Status: Investigation ongoing, including searches for potential disproportionate assets. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered.

The Complete Story

Odisha's Vigilance department has arrested a Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) and her husband in Bargarh district for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe to include a beneficiary in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) housing scheme list.

The accused have been identified as Nupur Seth, PEO of Gyan Gram Panchayat in the Padampur block, and her husband, Bed Prakash Biswal. According to Vigilance sources, the couple was apprehended around March 25th following a complaint filed by an eligible PMAY beneficiary.

Reports state that PEO Seth initially demanded ₹10,000 from the complainant to facilitate their inclusion in the housing scheme list. After the complainant expressed inability to pay the full amount due to poverty, the bribe was allegedly negotiated down to ₹5,000.

Frustrated by the demand, the complainant reported the incident to the Sambalpur Vigilance unit. Acting on the complaint, the anti-corruption wing laid a trap. Seth and her husband were caught red-handed shortly after Biswal allegedly accepted the ₹5,000 bribe amount from the complainant on behalf of his wife.

Vigilance officials confirmed that the entire bribe amount was recovered and seized from the couple's possession. Both individuals have been detained.

Following the trap, simultaneous searches were launched at two locations linked to PEO Seth as officials investigate a potential disproportionate assets angle. A case has been registered against the couple under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 (Sambalpur Vigilance PS Case No 3/2025).