Khordha: Odisha Vigilance on Monday apprehended the headmaster of a Government Upper Primary School in Balipatna block of Khordha district for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹15,000.

The accused, Shaikh Rayaz Alli, allegedly demanded the bribe from his predecessor and former headmaster of the school for releasing a reimbursement amount.

According to Vigilance officials, the former headmaster had incurred expenses towards the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme for four months while awaiting the allotment of funds. He was relieved from the school before the funds were allotted and the amount could be drawn.

The former headmaster subsequently requested Rayaz Alli to release the reimbursement amount through a cheque as per government guidelines. However, Alli allegedly demanded ₹15,000 from him for releasing the cheque.

Following the bribe demand, the former headmaster approached the Odisha Vigilance authorities and lodged a complaint.

Acting on the complaint, a Vigilance team laid a trap and caught Alli red-handed while allegedly accepting the ₹15,000 bribe from the complainant on Monday. The entire tainted money was recovered from his possession and seized.

Vigilance officials said simultaneous searches were also being conducted at two locations linked to Alli on suspicion that he had amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

In this connection, Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station Case No. 23, dated September 3, 2026, has been registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.

Further investigation into the case is underway.