Bhubaneswar, 11 July (H.S.): The Odisha Vigilance has registered a corruption case against Akshaya Kumar Sethy, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Nachuni Police Station in Khordha district, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe to settle a land dispute case. The accused, however, escaped from the scene with the bribe money after noticing the approaching Vigilance team.
According to Vigilance officials, the case pertains to a land dispute in which both parties had lodged separate complaints at Nachuni Police Station on July 5, 2026. ASI Sethy was assigned as the Investigating Officer for both cases. Later the same day, the disputing parties reportedly reached an amicable settlement.
Despite the compromise, the ASI allegedly demanded ₹10,000—₹5,000 from each party—to finalize the cases at the police station level. One of the complainants, who was scheduled to return to his workplace outside Odisha, requested an early disposal of the case. The ASI allegedly instructed him to submit an affidavit along with ₹5,000 on July 10, 2026, assuring him that the case would then be processed.
Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the Odisha Vigilance, which laid a trap and kept the accused under surveillance while the money was being handed over.
Officials said that immediately after accepting the bribe amount of ₹5,000, the ASI spotted the approaching Vigilance team and fled the scene on his motorcycle from a secluded, poorly lit area, taking the bribe money with him.
Following the incident, the Vigilance launched simultaneous searches at locations linked to the accused in the presence of officials from Nachuni Police Station.
In connection with the incident, Bhubaneswar Vigilance Police Station Case No. 16, dated July 10, 2026, has been registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
Odisha Vigilance said efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the absconding ASI. Further investigation into the case is in progress.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
