Sonepur: Vigilance sleuths Monday arrested Hariharjor outpost officer Kishore Kumar Bagh on the charge of demanding a bribe of Rs 20,000 from Arakhit Dash (23) of Thenga village under Birmaharajpur police limits in Subarnapur district.
A case was registered and the officer was produced in Bolangir vigilance court. He was later remanded in judicial custody after the court rejected his bail plea, sources said.
According to sources, Arakhit is the only bread-earner for the family. He ran a small snacks shop for a living. Police last Sunday conducted a raid at his shop and recovered two beer bottles from a refrigerator.
Bagh arrested Arakhit over the matter and took him to the police station. He threatened to register a case and produce Arakit in court.
Arakhit pleaded he was innocent and requested Bagh not to register a case over just two beer bottles. However, Bagh demanded Rs 20,000 for not registering a case.
Availing no option, Arakhit handed over Rs 10,000 and promised to give the remaining Rs 10,000 by August 20. Bagh took Arakhit’s signature on a white sheet and threatened to register a case if he did not give the remaining amount.
Later, Bagh began threatening Arakhit over phone. Left with no option, Arakhit approached Sonepur Vigilance officials and narrated his ordeal. Officials conducted a probe and found the complaint to be true.
A case was registered with Sambalpur Vigilance and a net was spread to nab Bagh red-handed in the presence of witnesses. The police outpost was closed due to a strike by the Farmers’ Association Monday. However, Bagh called Arakhit several times to demand the money.
Later, Arakhit as per plan took the chemical-laced currency notes and handed it over to Bagh. Officials disguised in plainclothes overpowered Bagh and seized the chemical-laced notes from his possession.
Simultaneous raids were conducted at his government residence, outpost office and Sambalpur-based flat. The raid was conducted by Subarnapur DSP Dilip Kumar Kar, Bolangir DSP Abhiram Kar, and inspector Subash Chandra Mishra. PNN
