Azo dyes have been extensively used in textile, pharmaceutical, paper, paint industries. The industries manufacturing dyes generate a large volume of water. Wastewater containing dyes in most of the cases is discharged into water bodies without any treatment or impartial treatment. This hampers not only flora and fauna of the aquatic ecosystem but showed adverse effects on human beings. Existing physical and chemical methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Biodegradation of dyes finds an eco- friendly process. In the present study, Micrococcus glutamicus NCIM 2168 was used for decolourization of the dye Direct Red 81. The isolate decolourized 98.54% of the dye at pH 6 and 28°C in 9 hours. Degradation of the dye was confirmed by the change in λmax of the decolorized sample. Confirmation of the degradation was done by HPLC and GCMS studies. Degradation was brought about by Oxidoreductases. Toxicity studies revealed nontoxic nature of the product. The culture was found to decolourise mixture of five dyes. Hence, the selected bacterial culture can be successfully used for the treatment of dye containing wastewater