Bhubaneswar, Odisha : In a major development, the Odisha Vigilance on Wednesday arrested Smt. Sarita Barik, OFS-I, Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, Bhubaneswar-IV Circle, in connection with a high-profile Odisha bribery case. She was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 25,000 from the owner of a food products firm.

According to officials, the complainant approached Vigilance alleging that Barik demanded a bribe to close a pending show-cause notice related to Input Tax Credit (ITC) reversal for the financial year 2020–21 and to waive off penalties and fines. Acting on the complaint, a trap was laid on August 26, 2025, during which Barik was nabbed with the full bribe amount in her possession.

Following the trap, Vigilance teams conducted simultaneous raids at her rented residence in Madhusudan Nagar, Bhubaneswar, her native house at Budhikhamari, Baripada town, and her office chamber. During these searches, authorities seized:

Cash of Rs 1.45 lakh

Gold ornaments weighing 222 grams

Bank deposits worth Rs 60 lakh

Property purchase documents and jewellery bills

Barik was produced before the Court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar, under Bhubaneswar Vigilance PS Case No.18 dated 26.08.2025, registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.

Officials confirmed that the investigation is ongoing to trace the full extent of disproportionate assets accumulated by the officer. The case has triggered shockwaves across the State Tax Department, highlighting Vigilance’s continued crackdown on corruption in Odisha.

Also Read : Odisha Bribery Case: Asst Commissioner Nabbed for Rs 25K Bribe