Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance has booked Akshaya Kumar Sethy, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Nachuni Police Station in Khordha district, for accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000.
A Vigilance statement said on Saturday that Sethy demanded a bribe of Rs 10,000 (Rs 5,000 from each party) to settle two counter cases related to a land dispute at Nachuni Police Station after the parties had already reached a compromise.
On July 5, two cross-cases were registered at Nachuni Police
Station over a land dispute. Sethy was assigned as the Investigating Officer of both cases. The same evening, the parties involved reached a compromise. Despite this, the ASI allegedly demanded Rs 5,000 from the complainant for ‘finalising the cases at the police station level.
The complainant, who had to return to his workplace outside Odisha, was asked to submit an affidavit along with the bribe money on July 10, 2026. Feeling aggrieved, he approached the Odisha Vigilance.
Acting on the complaint, a Vigilance team laid a trap on July 10 night. The ASI was caught accepting Rs 5,000 from the complainant in a secluded area. However, on spotting the approaching Vigilance team, Sethy managed to escape from the spot on his motorcycle along with the bribe money.
Following the incident, simultaneous searches are being conducted at various locations linked to the accused ASI in the presence of Nachuni Police officials.
A case has been registered at Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Efforts are underway to apprehend the absconding ASI.