Bhubaneswar: Vigilance officials have arrested one Limaraj Pradhan, Additional IIC of Umerkote police station in Nabarangpur district for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a complainant in order to resolve a family dispute.
Based on the complaint, the anti-graft agency laid a trap on Monday at around 11 PM wherein the accused Limaraj Pradhan was caught by the Vigilance team led by 1 DSP, 3 Inspectors and other staff near the Government Police quarter of Umerkote police station while he demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from the complainant, said an official press release.
Pradhan had asked the complainant to come after 10 pm to Umerkote police station. However, to avoid the CCTV cameras he came outside to a lonely place to collect the bribe.
After collecting the bribe amount, on seeing the Vigilance Team approaching from a distance, accused Pradhan fled to a neighbouring bushy area, however, he was chased and apprehended.
Pradhan tried to engage in a scuffle to free himself but was overpowered by the Vigilance team. The entire bribe money was recovered and seized in presence of witnesses.
Both hands wash as well as shirt pocket wash of Pradhan gave positive chemical reaction, confirming his acceptance and handling of bribe money by him.
Following the trap, simultaneous searches have been launched on the residential Government quarter of Pradhan at Umerkote; his rented residential house at Irrigation colony, Bhawanipatna; house at native village Bakingia under Raikia police station limits in Kandhamal district; and office chamber at Umerkote police station.
The Vigilance has registered a case against Pradhan under section 7 of PC Act, 1988 as amended by PC (Amendment) Act, 2018 and it is under investigation.
