Vigilance Court Sentences Former ASI to 3 Years RI in Bribery Case

Bhubaneswar: A Special Judge of the Vigilance Court in Phulbani on Wednesday sentenced former Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Police Nabin Kumar Satpathy to three years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹20,000 after convicting him in a bribery case registered by Odisha Vigilance.

Satpathy was charge-sheeted in Berhampur Vigilance Police Station Case No. 12 dated July 25, 2023, under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. He was found guilty of demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹8,000 from a complainant.

At the time of the offence, Satpathy was posted as ASI at Kiakata Police Station in Angul district and was serving as the Investigating Officer in a case involving the complainant. The Vigilance investigation revealed that he had sought the bribe in exchange for extending undue favour in the case. He was later posted on attachment as Court ASI at Deogarh Court.

Following the conviction, Odisha Vigilance stated that it will approach the competent authority to initiate proceedings for his dismissal from government service, as per service rules applicable to convicted public servants.

Officials said the conviction highlights the agency’s continued crackdown on corruption within the police force and other public offices.