Odisha Vigilance Arrests Police Sub-Inspector for Alleged Bribery

Sambalpur: Odisha Vigilance has arrested a Sub-Inspector (SI) of Police posted at Mahulpali Police Station in Sambalpur district for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a complainant to finalise a miscellaneous case. The accused police officer has been identified as Sujit Kumar Mahanta, Sub-Inspector of Mahulpali Police Station. According to Odisha Vigilance, Mahanta had allegedly demanded and accepted Rs 10,000 from the complainant to finalise a miscellaneous case registered against the latter at Mahulpali Police Station. Mahanta was serving as the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case and allegedly sought the illegal gratification in exchange for extending the official favour. The Vigilance operation reportedly involved a dramatic chase, with the accused being pursued on a road and in a pond before his arrest. Following his arrest, the accused police officer is being forwarded to the Court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Sambalpur. In this connection, Sambalpur Vigilance Police Station Case No. 21/2026 has been registered against Sujit Kumar Mahanta under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Further investigation into the matter is underway.