Cuttack: On charges of demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹2,000 to submit a favourable report in a land dispute case, the Odisha Vigilance on Monday apprehended an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Rajkanika Police Station.

The accused has been identified as Prasanta Pradhan, who was the investigating officer in the case.

According to Vigilance sources, the complainant was involved in a dispute over a jointly owned piece of land. Allegedly, the opposing party had started construction on the property without the complainant’s consent, prompting the latter to approach a competent court seeking a stay on the construction.

The court directed the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Rajkanika police station to submit a report within three days. The IIC subsequently assigned Pradhan to conduct the inquiry and file the report within the stipulated time.

When the complainant approached Pradhan regarding the report, the ASI allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹2,000 to submit it in his favour.

Aggrieved, the complainant reported the matter to Vigilance authorities. Acting on the complaint, a Vigilance team laid a trap and caught Pradhan red-handed while accepting the bribe near the old Rajkanika police station building.

The tainted bribe money was recovered from his possession and seized.

Following the trap, simultaneous searches are being conducted at two locations linked to the accused on suspicion of possession of disproportionate assets.

In this connection, a case has been registered at the Vigilance police station in Cuttack under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Further investigation is underway.