Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Saturday apprehended Madan Mohan Pradhan, Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police at Lahunipada Police Station in Sundargarh district, along with his associate Mandeep Kumar Dasmodak, a private individual, while they were allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000.
The duo was caught red-handed while taking the bribe from an eatery owner. According to Vigilance officials, ASI Pradhan had threatened the complainant that he would arrest him and forward him to court in connection with an Excise case registered against the eatery owner and his younger brother, unless the demanded amount was paid. The officer had offered to help the accused avoid arrest in exchange for the bribe.
Left with no option, the eatery owner approached Odisha Vigilance and lodged a complaint. Acting on the tip-off, a Vigilance team laid a trap and nabbed both accused while they were accepting the Rs 20,000 bribe.
The entire amount was recovered from their possession and seized. Following the successful trap, Vigilance teams simultaneously launched searches at three locations linked to ASI Pradhan from the disproportionate assets angle.
A case has been registered at Rourkela Vigilance Police Stationunder Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Investigation is underway against both the accused.
