Dhenkanal/Rasol: Acting on a tip-off, Cuttack vigilance sleuths Tuesday caught the IIC of Rasol police station in Dhenkanal district while receiving monthly gratification of Rs 50,000 from the owner of a crusher unit.
The accused cop, identified as Santosh Pradhan, is currently posted as the inspector-in-charge of Rasol police station. He has been accused of being involved in many other illegal businesses and frauds.
According to sources, a local, Ashutosh Mohanty had established a crusher unit at Karanda village under Odapada block in Dhenkanal district. Pradhan was allegedly extracting Rs 50,000 from Mohanty every month to let the unit run.
However, during election he started to demand Rs 2 lakh from Mohanty. When the owner expressed his inability, the IIC threatened him. With no options left, Mohanty knocked the doors of the Vigilance.
Following the complaint from the crusher unit owner, Cuttack Vigilance personnel laid a trap to catch the IIC red-handed.
As per plan, Mohanty took chemical-laced notes and handed it over to the IIC while the officials were guarding in plain clothes. Later, the officials caught the IIC red-handed while receiving the gratification.
The vigilance sleuths seized the tainted money from the possession of the accused IIC and subsequently arrested him. Besides, a search was also conducted at his government quarter.
PNN