Bhubaneswar: Vigilance officials Thursday arrested a woman cop deployed at Saheed Nagar police station while taking a bribe from a lady. The woman was allegedly paying a bribe of `15,000 to clear her name as an accused in a harassment case. The arrested cop was identified as Mamata Bastia who works as an ASI in Commissionerate Police. Mamata has been posted at the police station for the last 18 months. Sources claimed that 72-year-old Subhashri Mishra, from whom the bribe was demanded, and her tenant have been at loggerheads for the last couple of years.
A case in this regard has been pending in a local civil court for a long. Both parties had numerous arguments over the non-payment of rent since 2018. A few days back, they again argued and the tenant moved the court against Mishra. Following directions of the court, Saheed Nagar police registered a complaint case in this regard last month. Police during the probe found that allegations against Mishra were fabricated.
However, Mamata who was the investigating officer (IO) of the case, asked the septuagenarian lady to pay Rs 15,000 or face arrest. Mishra then informed the Vigilance officials. Accordingly, a trap was set and Mamata was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe at Mishra’s residence.
