Corruption Crackdown: Odisha Police ASI Arrested for Bribery

Vigilance Operation in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: On Thursday, vigilance authorities in Odisha apprehended an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000.

The ASI, stationed at the Tigiria police station in Cuttack district, was caught red-handed while receiving the money from a complainant, who sought assistance in resolving a dispute with a local villager.

In the wake of the arrest, officials executed simultaneous searches at three locations associated with the ASI.

Earlier that same day, four government officials were detained for their involvement in the embezzlement of Rs 20 lakh in government funds.

These arrests stemmed from allegations of financial misconduct related to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in the Kashipur block of Rayagada district. A thorough investigation revealed that the suspects were engaged in significant financial irregularities, according to an official.

The individuals implicated include an assistant project director, two soil conservation overseers, and a soil conservation extension worker, all of whom are employed in the project director's office within the watershed department in Rayagada.

Investigators discovered that the accused misappropriated over Rs 20 lakh by falsely reporting the excavation of 23 farm ponds across various villages in the Kashipur block. They fraudulently transferred funds to the bank accounts of laborers with job cards, which were subsequently withdrawn.

The officer noted, "These transactions are currently under verification."

A case has been filed at the Koraput Vigilance Police Station against all involved parties, and further inquiries are ongoing.