Kendujhar: Odisha Vigilance officials on Sunday arrested Kendujhar District Labour Officer (DLO) Akash Bisoi for allegedly demanding and accepting bribe from an electrical contractor for issuing a labour licence.

According to Vigilance sources, the contractor had been assigned electrical installation work by TPNODL and was required to obtain a labour licence to engage workers for the project.

The contractor had submitted an online application for the licence on August 14, 2026, in accordance with the rules of the Labour and ESI Department, Government of Odisha.

Two days later, on August 16, when the contractor enquired about the status of the licence, Bisoi allegedly demanded ₹20,000 for processing and issuing it. The contractor subsequently approached the Vigilance authorities and lodged a complaint, alleging harassment by the officer.

Acting on the complaint, a team of Odisha Vigilance laid a trap and apprehended Bisoi on Sunday evening while he was allegedly accepting the bribe from the complainant.

The entire tainted amount of ₹20,000 was recovered from Bisoi’s possession and seized.

Vigilance officials said simultaneous searches were also being conducted at two locations linked to the accused officer to ascertain whether he had accumulated any disproportionate assets.

In connection with the case, Baleshwar Vigilance Police Station Case No. 18/2026 has been registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.

Further investigation into the matter is underway.