Odisha Vigilance nabs SI in ₹10,000 bribe trap; cop jumps into pond to flee
Synopsis
An Odisha police sub-inspector jumped into a pond to escape a vigilance team after being caught taking a ₹10,000 bribe — only to be pulled out by a constable who swam in after him. The case adds to Odisha Vigilance's tally of 274 corruption arrests since mid-2024, with the agency increasingly snaring serving police officers.
Key Takeaways
SI Sujit Kumar Mahanta of Mahulpali Police Station, Sambalpur , was caught accepting a bribe of ₹10,000 on 4 November 2026 .
Mahanta jumped into a pond to evade arrest but was apprehended by a vigilance constable who swam after him.
A chemical right-hand wash test confirmed he had handled the bribe money.
Cash of ₹1,55,700 was recovered from his restroom adjoining the police station during simultaneous searches.
A case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 has been registered; Mahanta is detained for interrogation.
Odisha Vigilance has arrested 274 persons in 232 trap cases , seizing bribes worth ₹58.39 lakh between June 2024 and October 2026 .
The Odisha Vigilance on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, caught a police sub-inspector red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹10,000 at Mahulpali Police Station in Sambalpur district — triggering a dramatic chase that ended with the accused officer jumping into a nearby pond to evade arrest. The suspect, Sub-Inspector Sujit Kumar Mahanta, was ultimately pulled out of the water by a vigilance constable who swam in after him.
How the Trap Was Sprung
According to the Odisha Vigilance, SI Mahanta was the Investigation Officer (IO) of a miscellaneous case registered against the complainant at Mahulpali Police Station. The complainant approached the vigilance after Mahanta allegedly demanded a bribe to 'finalise' the case in his favour. A trap was laid, and Mahanta was caught accepting ₹10,000 in the presence of witnesses.
Moments after taking the money, Mahanta reportedly spotted the vigilance team closing in and bolted from the spot. As officers gave chase, he leapt into a pond in a bid to escape. A constable from the vigilance team entered the water and apprehended him. The entire bribe amount was recovered from Mahanta's possession at the scene.
Chemical Test and Searches
The vigilance said a right-hand wash test conducted on Mahanta returned a positive chemical reaction, scientifically confirming that he had handled the bribe money. Following the trap, simultaneous searches were launched at three locations: Mahanta's restroom adjoining Mahulpali Police Station, the government quarter of his father at Bandamunda, Rourkela, and his office room at the station.
During the search of the restroom adjoining the police station, cash amounting to ₹1,55,700 was recovered and seized. The searches were still ongoing at the time of reporting.
Case Registered, Mahanta Detained
A formal case — numbered 21/26 — has been registered at the Sambalpur Vigilance Police Station on 3 November 2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Mahanta has been detained for further interrogation, according to the vigilance department.
Odisha Vigilance's Record Since June 2024
This arrest is part of a sustained anti-corruption drive by the Odisha Vigilance. According to the agency, it has registered 232 trap cases and arrested 274 persons — including 31 Class-I officers and 38 Class-II officers — between 12 June 2024 and 26 October 2026. The cumulative value of bribes intercepted in that period stands at ₹58.39 lakh. Notably, the pattern of arrests suggests the vigilance has increasingly targeted serving police personnel, underscoring systemic concerns within the force.
Point of View
Including 31 Class-I officers, in just over two years, suggesting corruption is not a rogue exception but a structural problem within the state's public services. The agency's aggressive trap-and-test methodology is producing results, yet the speed of arrests has outpaced any visible deterrence: each new case emerges from the same institutional culture. The question mainstream coverage often skips is whether departmental action follows vigilance arrests, or whether officers are simply suspended, then quietly reinstated.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is SI Sujit Kumar Mahanta and why was he arrested?
Sujit Kumar Mahanta is a Sub-Inspector posted at Mahulpali Police Station in Sambalpur district, Odisha. He was arrested by the Odisha Vigilance on 4 November 2026 after being caught red-handed accepting a bribe of ₹10,000 from a complainant whose miscellaneous case he was investigating, in exchange for settling it in the complainant's favour.
How did the Odisha Vigilance catch SI Mahanta?
The vigilance laid a trap after the complainant approached the agency. When Mahanta spotted the team closing in after accepting the money, he fled and jumped into a nearby pond. A vigilance constable swam into the pond and apprehended him. A chemical wash test later confirmed he had handled the bribe money.
What was recovered during searches following the arrest?
Cash of ₹1,55,700 was seized from Mahanta's restroom adjoining Mahulpali Police Station. Simultaneous searches were also conducted at his father's government quarter in Bandamunda, Rourkela, and his office room at the station.
What charges have been filed against Mahanta?
A case numbered 21/26 has been registered at Sambalpur Vigilance Police Station on 3 November 2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Mahanta has been detained for further interrogation.
How active has the Odisha Vigilance anti-corruption drive been?
Since 12 June 2024, the Odisha Vigilance has registered 232 trap cases and arrested 274 persons, including 31 Class-I and 38 Class-II officers, with total bribe money intercepted amounting to ₹58.39 lakh up to 26 October 2026.
