Bhubaneswar: In a significant anti-corruption drive, the Odisha Vigilance arrested an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Mancheswar Police Station and a Home Guard Driver for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 to return seized mobile phones and extend help in a criminal case.
According to the Vigilance release, Rajesh Kullu, ASI and Investigating Officer of Mancheswar Police Station, and Jyoti Ranjan Behera, Home Guard Driver, were apprehended while accepting Rs 20,000 as bribe.
On June 12, 2026, ASI Rajesh Kullu had reportedly taken Rs 30,000 from a complainant and returned one of two seized mobile phones. When the complainant approached him again on June 17 for the return of the second phone, Kullu allegedly directed him to pay an additional Rs 20,000 to the Home Guard Driver, Jyoti Ranjan Behera, and collect the phone from him.
The complainant, suspecting foul play, reported the matter to the Odisha Vigilance authorities. A trap was laid, and both accused persons were caught red-handed while accepting the bribe money. The tainted Rs 20,000 was recovered and seized from them.
Following the trap, Vigilance teams conducted simultaneous searches at two locations linked to ASI Rajesh Kullu to probe his assets from the disproportionate assets (DA) angle.Case Details
A case has been registered at Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Investigation is underway against both the accused.
