In a swift operation, the Odisha Vigilance Department apprehended an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Police and a Home Guard Driver from Mancheswar Police Station for demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹50,000 in connection with the return of two seized mobile phones.
The arrested persons have been identified as Rajesh Kullu, ASI, Mancheswar Police Station, Bhubaneswar, and Jyoti Ranjan Behera, Home Guard Driver.
ASI Kullu was the Investigating Officer in the case involving the two mobile phones.
According to Vigilance officials, on June 12, 2026, ASI Kullu had already accepted ₹30,000 from the complainant and returned one mobile phone. Today, when the complainant approached him for the return of the second phone, Kullu allegedly demanded an additional ₹20,000 and instructed the complainant to hand over the money to the Home Guard Driver, Jyoti Ranjan Behera.
The complainant, suspecting foul play, immediately reported the matter to the Vigilance authorities. Acting on the complaint, a Vigilance team laid a trap and caught both accused persons red-handed while accepting the bribe of ₹20,000. The tainted bribe money was recovered and seized from their possession.
Following the trap, simultaneous searches are being conducted at two locations linked to ASI Rajesh Kullu to probe his disproportionate assets.
A case has been registered at Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station vide Case No. 10 dated 16.06.2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. An investigation is underway against both the accused.
