Cuttack, Jan 5: The Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of CRRI police station in Cuttack, Bijaya Kumar Barik, has been placed under suspension following his arrest in a vigilance case, a source said on Monday.

According to information issued by police headquarters, the suspension order was issued by Odisha Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania after a vigilance case was registered against the officer. Barik has been suspended from service with immediate effect as departmental action has been initiated in view of the serious allegations against him.

The action follows a major anti-corruption operation by Odisha Vigilance, which apprehended Barik while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000 from a licensed liquor vendor. Vigilance officials said the trap was laid at Rajmahal Chhak in Bhubaneswar, where the officer was allegedly caught red-handed while demanding and receiving the illegal gratification in return for allowing the vendor’s business to operate without hindrance.

Vigilance sources said the entire tainted amount was recovered from Barik’s possession and seized as evidence during the operation. Following the arrest, simultaneous searches were launched at two locations linked to the officer to probe the angle of disproportionate assets.

A case has been registered against Barik under Cell Division Police Station Case No. 1/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, which deals with public servants accepting illegal gratification. Vigilance officials confirmed that further investigation into the case is underway.

Senior police officials said the suspension is in line with established procedure, as an officer facing serious corruption charges cannot remain in active service while the investigation continues. “The matter is being dealt with strictly as per law. Departmental proceedings will follow based on the outcome of the vigilance investigation,” a senior official said.

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The development has triggered widespread discussion within police circles, as the case underscores the state government’s stated commitment to zero tolerance against corruption, including within the police force. Odisha Vigilance has indicated that a detailed report will be submitted after completion of the ongoing searches and examination of financial records.