Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], September 12 (ANI): Officials from Odisha Vigilance have arrested an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Khalikote Police Station in Ganjam district for allegedly soliciting and accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 in exchange for assistance in a legal matter involving a complainant.

On Friday, it was reported that Sujit Panigrahi, the ASI in question, was caught while receiving the bribe within the police station’s premises.

Panigrahi was the Investigating Officer for a case against the individual who filed the complaint and was purportedly demanding Rs 15,000 to provide help regarding the case.

After the complainant was unable to meet the bribe demand, he notified the Vigilance authorities, prompting them to set up a sting operation on Friday.

A team from Odisha Vigilance subsequently apprehended Panigrahi while he was allegedly accepting the Rs 15,000 bribe inside the police station.

The entire amount of the tainted bribe, Rs 15,000, was recovered from Panigrahi’s possession and seized by the Vigilance team.

Following this operation, searches are being conducted at two locations associated with Panigrahi concerning possible disproportionate assets, as per the anti-corruption agency.

In relation to this incident, Case No. 09 has been registered at Brahmapur Vigilance Police Station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, with the events dated September 11, 2026.

The investigation into Panigrahi’s actions is currently ongoing, and a comprehensive report on the situation is forthcoming. (ANI)