The Odisha vigilance on Tuesday arrested a government doctor for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 11,000 from a LIC agent to countersign the death insurance claim form of a deceased policy holder, who was under his treatment.

The doctor has been identified as Dr Umakanta Khejuria who is at present working as a medicine specialist in the Headquarter Hospital, Dhenkanal, about 100km from here.

“A lady, Nandini Nayak, (37), died recently and her only surviving eight-year-old minor daughter was supposed to get the death insurance claim as nominee. The bribe demand was for countersigning the claim documents,” the vigilance said in a press release issued on Tuesday.

The press release further said, “Based on a complaint, a trap was laid on Tuesday wherein the accused Dr. Umakanta Khejuria was caught by the team of Odisha Vigilance at a clinic near District Headquarter Hospital, Dhenkanal while demanding and accepting undue advantage (bribe) of Rs.11,000 from the complainant.”

“The entire bribe money was recovered from Dr Khejuria and seized. A case has been registered. Investigation in progress against accused Dr Khejuria. He will be forwarded to court on Wednesday,” said the press release.

The vigilance officials maintained that Nandini’s husband had earlier passed away and the daughter was the only child of Nandini.