Odisha government sacked police inspector

The Odisha government on Saturday dismissed from service a police inspector from whom Rs 37.27 lakh was seized last week, stepping up its war against corruption

The accused officer, Sushanta Satpathy, was posted at Boipariguda police station in Koraput district.

“In consonance with the zero-tolerance policy of the state government towards corruption, DGP has dismissed Sushanta Satpathy, inspector of police, from the service under article 311 (2) (b) of Indian Constitution following his arrest in a corruption case,” Odisha police tweeted.

Satpathy was arrested following a tip-off that he was travelling in a bus from Jeypore town in Koraput district to his permanent residence at Cuttack carrying the ill-gotten cash with him. The bus was intercepted by vigilance sleuths.

The officer was found to have Rs 2.70 lakh in his possession. As he was not able to give satisfactory answers to the queries of the vigilance officials, he was detained. Later a probe was initiated.

Following a search operation at different locations, the vigilance later found Rs 1.80 lakh from his office chamber, Rs 3 lakh from his official quarters at Boipariguda police station and Rs 29.77 lakh from his government quarters at Cuttack.

Sources said the vigilance is investigating whether Satpathy accumulated such a huge amount of money through bribes that he might have got from illegal ganja (opium) traders. Satpathy was promoted to the rank of inspector in August.