Sundargarh: On charges of demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹25,000, the Odisha Vigilance on Thursday apprehended Arupa Nanda Das, an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) posted at Badagaon Police Station in Sundargarh district.

According to Vigilance officials, the ASI had demanded the bribe from a roadside eatery (dhaba) owner in return for helping him in a case and allowing his business to run smoothly.

Das had allegedly threatened to arrest the dhaba owner if the demanded bribe was not paid. Left with no other option, the hotel owner reported the matter to the Vigilance authorities.

Acting on the complaint, Vigilance officials laid a trap and caught the ASI red-handed while accepting the ₹25,000 bribe from the complainant. The entire tainted money was recovered from Das and seized.

Following the successful trap, simultaneous searches are being carried out at four locations linked to the accused from the angle of amassing disproportionate assets.

In this connection, a case has been registered at the Rourkela Vigilance Police Station (Case No. 01/2026) under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 against Das. Further investigation is underway.