Sonepur: Assistant Registrar of Sonepur Cooperative Societies Ashish Kumar Rout was today caught red-handed by Vigilance sleuths while he was demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 17,000.

Acting on a complaint lodged by one Manjaya Dharua of Dunguripali in the district, a team of  Vigilance officials of Sambalpur Division laid a trap and caught Rout red-handed in his office today.

As per the complaint, he had demanded the graft in order to process a paddy procurement bill in favour of the complainant.

Further inquiry is underway in this connection, Vigilance sources said.