Woman Police Station In-Charge Arrested by ACB While Accepting Rs 50,000 Bribe

Khunti: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday arrested the officer-in-charge of the Women Police Station in Jharkhand's Khunti district after she was allegedly caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000.

The arrested officer, identified as Sulekha Kumari Sapna, was apprehended during a trap operation conducted by the Ranchi unit of the ACB.

According to ACB officials, she had allegedly demanded the bribe from a complainant in return for removing the name of an accused from a human trafficking and child labour case registered at the women police station and for extending favourable treatment during the investigation.

Instead of paying the amount, the complainant approached the ACB and lodged a formal complaint.

After conducting a preliminary verification, the bureau found prima facie evidence supporting the allegations and planned a trap.

As part of the operation, the complainant handed over the marked currency notes to the officer on Thursday. ACB personnel, who were stationed nearby in plain clothes, immediately moved in and arrested her while she was allegedly accepting the money.

Following the arrest, Sulekha Kumari Sapna was taken to the ACB headquarters in Ranchi for interrogation and further legal proceedings.

Officials said additional documents related to the case are being examined, and a case has been registered against her under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Notably, the Khunti Women Police Station has faced similar allegations in the past. In 2021, its then officer-in-charge, Meera Kumari, was also arrested by the ACB in an alleged bribery case.

The ACB said the arrested officer will be produced before the competent court after the completion of questioning.

The bureau also urged citizens to report any instance of government officials demanding bribes, assuring that every complaint would be investigated confidentially and appropriate legal action would be taken.

With inputs from IANS

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