Khunti (Jharkhand), July 30 (IANS) The Anti-Corruption Bureau’s (ACB) Ranchi unit on Thursday arrested Sulekha Kumari Sapna, the officer in charge of the Women Police Station in Jharkhand’s Khunti district, after she was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000, officials said.
According to ACB officials, the woman police officer had allegedly demanded the bribe from a complainant in exchange for removing the name of an accused from a case related to human trafficking and child labour registered at the women police station and providing relief during the investigation.
Instead of paying the amount, the complainant approached the branch of the Ranchi ACB with a complaint.
Following a preliminary verification, the bureau found prima facie evidence supporting the allegations and subsequently laid a trap.
As part of the operation, the complainant met the officer on Thursday and handed over the bribe money.
ACB personnel, deployed nearby in plain clothes, immediately swooped in and arrested her while she was allegedly accepting the money.
After the arrest, the accused officer was taken to the ACB headquarters in Ranchi for questioning and further legal proceedings.
Officials said that additional documents and other aspects related to the case were also being examined.
A case under anti-corruption law has also been registered against Sulekha Kumari Sapna.
The Khunti Women Police Station has previously been in the spotlight over corruption allegations. In 2021, its then officer-in-charge, Meera Kumari, was also arrested by the ACB for allegedly accepting a bribe.
The ACB said that further action against the arrested officer is being taken under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
After completion of the necessary interrogation, she will be produced before a competent court for custody.
The ACB has once again made an appeal to the public to immediately inform the bureau if any government official or employee demands a bribe in exchange for any service.
Upon receiving a complaint, a confidential investigation will be conducted, and action will be taken in accordance with the law.
–IANS
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