Bhubaneswar: The Vigilance sleuths today arrested the Principal of an Odisha Adarsh Vidyalaya (OAV) in Kalahandi district on charges of taking Rs 10,000 bribe from the functionary of a Self-help Group (SHG) to clear the pending bills.

Sitakanta Rana, the Principal of an OAV at Thuamul Rampur, in Kalahandi has been held for demanding and accepting the bribe from the functionary of the SHG, said the Odisha Vigilance.

The SHG functionary had requested Rana several times for clearance of the pending bills. Rana, however, sought Rs 10,000 bribe in this regard.

The SHG functionary had lodged a complaint in this regard with the Odisha Vigilance. Subsequently, a trap was laid and Rana was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe from the complainant.

The entire bribe money has been recovered from the possession of the accused OAV Principal and seized.

Following the trap, simultaneous searches are going on at two locations linked to Rana to unearth any disproportionate assets (DA) amassed by him.

The Vigilance Police Station in Koraput has registered a case against Rana under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act-2018. Further investigation into the matter is underway, added the Odisha Vigilance.