Bhubaneswar, Sep 11: An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Khalikote Police Station in Ganjam district was caught red-handed by Odisha Vigilance on Friday while allegedly demanding and accepting a ₹15,000 bribe to help a person in a case registered at the police station.

The accused official has been identified as Sujit Panigrahi. He was the investigating officer in the case involving the complainant.

According to the Vigilance, Panigrahi had allegedly demanded ₹15,000 from the complainant in return for helping him in the case. Unable to meet the demand, the complainant approached the Vigilance authorities and reported the matter.

Acting on the complaint, a team of Vigilance laid a trap on Friday. Panigrahi was allegedly apprehended while accepting the bribe of ₹15,000 inside the Khalikote police station premises.

The entire tainted bribe amount of ₹15,000 was recovered from his possession and seized by the Vigilance team.

Following the trap, simultaneous searches were conducted at two locations linked to Panigrahi as part of a disproportionate-assets (DA) angle.

In connection with the case, Brahmapur Vigilance Police has registered a case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.

The investigation against the accused ASI is currently underway, said Vigilance.