Bhubaneswar: Special Judge, Vigilance here today sentenced Rama Chandra Sethi, a sub-inspector of police, to undergo three years of rigorous imprisonment in a bribery case.

Sethi, SI of Chandrasekharpur police station, was convicted for demand and acceptance of illegal gratification of Rs 4,000. A fine of Rs 10,000 was also imposed on him. In the case of non-payment of the fine, he will have to undergo an additional rigorous imprisonment for six months.

The case pertains to a dispute between the family of complainant Jitendra Kumar Padhy and his tenant Pandab Swain regarding vacation of the house in 2009. The tenant lodged an FIR against the complainant and his family members at Chandrasekharpur police station. A counter case was lodged by Bhimsen Padhy, father of Jitendra, against Pandab.

Subsequently, the matter was settled between them and the tenant vacated the house. After taking charge of investigation of the case, the SI arrested the father of the complainant and forwarded him to court.

Jitendra approached the police official during which the latter demanded illegal gratification of Rs 5000 to submit the case diary in court for release of Jitendra's father and removal of the name from the chargesheet.

Jitendra paid Rs 1000 to the SI and the rest amount was settled to be paid later. The complainant approached the SP, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar and lodged an FIR against the accused.

Accordingly, a trap was laid and the police official was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe.