Rs 30 lakh ‘bribery scandal’: 2 police officials suspended in Odisha

Two senior police officers in Sambalpur district were suspended on Tuesday following allegations of accepting a bribe of Rs 30 lakh.

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According to official sources, the former Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) Ranjan Biswal and current Sub-Inspector (SI) Abhishek Pradhan of Town Police Station were placed under suspension after the Director General of Police (DGP) issued orders.

The action is linked to a high-profile case involving significant illegal land transactions within the police limits. On 28 March, several individuals, including the district Sub-Registrar Surya Narayan Samal, were arrested on allegations of being involved in alleged land transactions valued at crores of rupees.

Further probe implicated Biswal in these dealings, with investigators alleging that he received substantial sums in exchange for his involvement in the illegitimate sales.

In response to the unfolding scandal, authorities had also apprehended two developers and a middleman, and the former IIC Biswal was transferred to headquarters.

Arrest of Sub-Inspector in previous bribery case

On April 16, 2025, Odisha police Sub-Inspector Rajesh Kumar Srichandan was arrested after accepting Rs 4,000 bribe to register a case. The Vigilance Department laid a trap following a complaint, apprehending him outside the Sarankul Police Station. This incident highlights direct monetary corruption within police procedures.

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Impact on public trust and institutional credibility

Recurring scandals - from street-level bribes to elite bureaucratic links - have eroded confidence in Odisha's law enforcement. The home guard's public allegation against superiors underscores internal ethical failures, complicating reform efforts.