MANDI: The SHO of Padhar police station in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, Ashok Kumar, has been arrested by the Vigilance Department while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 from a complainant to settle a case, said officials.
The complainant is learnt to have approached officials of the Vigilance Department, who laid a trap and allegedly caught the SHO red-handed taking the bribe at his residence.
DSP Priyank Gupta from the Vigilance Department confirmed the arrest and stated that legal proceedings were underway. An investigation into Kumar’s assets may also be initiated, he said.
According to information, after the complainant alerted Vigilance officials, he was instructed to reach the SHO’s house and offer him the money that the police official had demanded. As soon as the complainant handed over the money, Vigilance officials caught the police official red-handed, said sources.
The SHO would be produced in court to seek his remand to ascertain his assets and known sources of income to uncover any additional evidence of misconduct, said a police official.
The arrest has sparked widespread public outrage about ethical conduct of the men in khaki. The Mandi police’s reputation too has come under the scanner.
