Rs 1X,XXX under truck: How Bihar police caught their own extorting Odisha officials

Bihar: Bihar excise constable and his accomplice have been arrested for allegedly extorting Rs 1 lakh from two Odisha government officials after catching them with liquor. The incident highlights the challenges of enforcing prohibition laws and the potential for corruption, as well as the quick action taken after the officials reported the incident.

Pilgrimage Turns Sour

Two Odisha government officials, Kalpataru Sethi and Laxmidhar Barad, along with a driver, were returning from Prayagraj after taking a dip at Maha Kumbh when they were stopped by excise constable Kunal Kumar near the integrated check post on NH 19 in Bihar. Sethi admitted they had consumed liquor near Varanasi due to traffic jams and were asleep when their car entered Bihar, a state with a strict prohibition law since 2016.

Rs 1 Lakh Demand

Constable Kumar allegedly exploited the situation, forcing them to park their car at a hotel 4km away and demanding ₹1 lakh to let them go. The officials handed over ₹80,000 in cash, but Kumar also allegedly snatched ₹10,000 from the driver and their belongings, demanding an additional ₹20,000. He then forced them to transfer ₹10,000 via a third party before finally allowing them to leave.

Caught on Camera

After their release, Sethi contacted a joint commissioner-rank officer in the excise department in Odisha, reporting the entire incident. He provided video clips of the constable that he secretly recorded and the transfer receipt as evidence. An inquiry was launched, and the constable was identified. ₹10,500 of the extorted money was recovered from where Kumar had hidden it under a parked truck.

Arrest and Investigation

Constable Kunal Kumar and his accomplice, Satish Yadav, were arrested on charges of extortion and under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Kaimur superintendent of police Hari Mohan Shukla stated that the police are investigating the case and that no one involved will be spared.