Odisha Vigilance has registered a corruption case against Akshaya Kumar Sethy, an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) posted at Nachuni Police Station in Khordha district, for allegedly demanding and accepting a ₹5,000 bribe to dispose of a land dispute case before fleeing with the cash after noticing the vigilance team.
According to Vigilance officials, the incident took place on the night of July 10, when a trap was laid following a complaint alleging that the ASI had demanded money to settle police cases arising out of a land dispute.
Bribe allegedly sought after compromise
Officials said the complainant had lodged a case at Nachuni Police Station on July 5 over a land dispute, while the opposite party also filed a counter-complaint. ASI Akshaya Kumar Sethy was assigned as the investigating officer in both cases.
Later that day, the two parties reportedly reached a compromise. Despite the settlement, the ASI allegedly demanded ₹10,000, asking ₹5,000 from each side, to finalise the cases at the police station level.
As the complainant had to return to his workplace outside Odisha, he requested early disposal of the case. The ASI allegedly directed him to submit an affidavit along with ₹5,000 on July 10 to complete the process.
Vigilance lays trap, ASI escapes
Unwilling to pay the alleged bribe, the complainant approached Odisha Vigilance, prompting officials to organise a trap operation.
A Vigilance team kept watch from a distance as the ASI allegedly accepted the money. However, after noticing the approaching officers, Sethy reportedly fled from the secluded location on his motorcycle, taking the ₹5,000 bribe amount with him.
Searches underway
Following the incident, Odisha Vigilance launched simultaneous searches at locations linked to the accused ASI in the presence of officials from Nachuni Police Station.
A case has been registered at Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
Officials said efforts are underway to trace and arrest the ASI, while further investigation into the alleged bribery case is continuing.
