ASI held for taking Rs 15k bribe to settle power theft case

Rudrapur: An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly demanding and accepting a Rs 15,000 bribe to settle a power theft case in Udham Singh Nagar district.Officials said the accused, Anwar Ahmad, was probing a power theft case registered at Gadarpur police station when a resident of Dineshpur approached the Vigilance Sector in Haldwani, alleging that the ASI had been demanding money to close the case. Following a preliminary verification that confirmed the complaint, the vigilance team laid a trap and caught the ASI red-handed while accepting the bribe. He was immediately taken into custody, and further legal action is underway, officials said.Udham Singh Nagar SSP Ajay Ganpati suspended Ahmad and ordered a departmental enquiry.Officials said that the ASI, currently posted at Dineshpur police station, had allegedly been pressuring the complainant for several days under the guise of investigation. "We are committed to reinforcing the state's zero-tolerance policy against corruption," SSP Ganpati said.