An assistant sub-inspector in Khordha district was caught in a trap while accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000, but managed to escape from the vigilance department team, prompting authorities to launch a manhunt to arrest him, officials reported on Saturday.
According to a complaint lodged with the anti-corruption agency, Akshaya Kumar Sethy, the ASI attached to the Nachuni Police Station, had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 10,000 to resolve two counter cases filed on July 5 regarding a land dispute.
While both sides involved in the dispute were looking to settle the matter amicably, Sethy, who was handling the investigation for both cases, demanded the money to close the files, the vigilance department detailed in a statement.
Upon receiving the bribery complaint, vigilance officers set up a trap on Friday night. Sethy showed up at the location and took the money, but bolted from the scene the moment he spotted the anti-corruption team closing in.
“The vigilance Police Station, Bhubaneswar, has booked Sethy under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (amendment) Act, 2018. Efforts are on to nab the ASI in the bribery case,” the vigilance department said.
Raids and searches are currently being conducted across multiple locations to track down the fleeing officer, officials added.
