Why Was a Woman Police Inspector Arrested in Odisha?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Corruption in law enforcement: The incident highlights serious issues of integrity within police forces.
- Vigilance operations: Efficient anti-corruption measures are crucial for maintaining public trust.
- Legal implications: The accused may face severe consequences in the wake of this investigation.
- Public awareness: Citizens must remain vigilant and report corrupt practices.
- Ongoing investigations: Authorities will continue to probe into the matter to uncover any further wrongdoing.
Bhubaneswar, Dec 18 (NationPress) The Odisha Vigilance apprehended a female police inspector on Thursday after she was allegedly caught in the act of demanding a bribe to assist in securing bail for a suspect in a criminal case.
The officer has been identified as Sukma Hansdah, serving as the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) at the Dasmantpur Police Station located in Koraput district.
As per Vigilance sources, Hansdah was arrested by anti-corruption officials while soliciting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a relative of the accused, promising to present the case diary in court.
The accused is linked to a case of women’s atrocities previously filed at the Dasmantpur Police Station, where IIC Hansdah was the lead investigator.
Reports indicate that the accused had already been placed in judicial custody, and the court had explicitly requested the case diary for hearing. It was alleged that Hansdah demanded the bribe to facilitate the production of the case diary in court, which could aid the accused in obtaining bail.
After multiple requests for the bribe, a relative of the accused contacted the Odisha Vigilance and lodged a complaint outlining the bribery attempt.
“In response to this complaint, a sting operation was executed on Thursday, resulting in the capture of Sukma Hansdah, IIC, who was found demanding an illicit amount of Rs 20,000 from the accused's relative,” stated a senior Vigilance official.
The full bribe amount was recovered from Hansdah in the presence of witnesses.
Post-arrest, Vigilance teams conducted parallel searches at Hansdah's government quarters in Dasmantpur and her office chamber, examining relevant documents and materials related to the ongoing investigation.
After the operation, Hansdah was presented in court and subsequently remanded to judicial custody.