Odisha Vigilance nabs Jajpur town ASI for Rs 5,000 bribe charge in land dispute case

Odisha Vigilance officials on Tuesday apprehended an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) posted at Jajpur Town police station for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 in a land dispute case. The officer, identified as Nand Kishore Das, was detained while allegedly receiving the cash at the station premises during a trap operation.

According to sources, a person had been asked by the ASI to provide money in exchange for preparing an official report in his favour for a pending land dispute. The complainant approached the Vigilance Directorate, which immediately arranged a trap operation.

Das was caught red-handed during the transaction, and the cash, along with related documentation, was seized for further investigation.

Bribery Linked To Property Report

Preliminary inquiry suggests that the bribe demand was directly linked to a land record dispute in the Jajpur Town area.

Officials said the ASI allegedly offered to influence the outcome of the report, which would have been used in administrative proceedings regarding land ownership. The incident has been officially recorded, and the Vigilance team has initiated formal procedures under anti-corruption laws.

The accused ASI is currently in Vigilance custody, and investigations are ongoing to determine if any other individuals were involved. The Directorate has stated that it will follow due process in filing charges and submitting the case for judicial review.

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Odisha Vigilance Intensifies Crackdown

Notably, this arrest comes a day after Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, in a written reply to the state Assembly, noted that over the last 18 months, 20 police officials have been arrested in separate Vigilance operations across the state.

In the same period, a total of 271 government employees, including personnel from multiple departments, have faced detention in corruption-related cases.

Additionally, Vigilance Courts recorded 174 convictions during the same period, reflecting a rise in successful prosecutions against public officials.