A seven-member team of anti-corruption bureau (ACB) caught an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) red-handed while taking Rs 5,000 bribe from a prosecution witness on Wednesday.

Naval Kishore Tiwary (54) of Jadugora thana, around 30km from Jamshedpur, was taken to the ACB's divisional office at Sonari in Jamshedpur.

Deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Amar Pandey, who led the ACB team, said Tiwary would be taken to the bureau's regional office in Chaibasa on Thursday.

"The ASI had demanded bribe from a local resident, Nagen Mardi, against whom a non-bailable warrant was issued for failing to appear before Ghatshila court in a case. The ASI had promised Mardi that he would ensure his bail at the thana-level itself if he paid him Rs 5,000. Mardi lodged a complaint against Tiwary at our Sonari office a week ago," said Pandey.

"We gave Mardi a kind of chemical powder to put it on the currency notes. Today (Wednesday), Mardi went to Jadugora thana at noon and paid Tiwary Rs 5,000 - two notes of Rs 2,000 denomination and 10 of Rs 100 - all smeared with the powder. We caught the ASI as soon as Mardi came out," said the DSP.

Pandey added they forced Tiwary to dip his fingers in a glass of water. As he did so, the water turned red.

No other policeman, including Jadugora thana officer-in-charge (OC) Ramchandra Ram, was present during the raid. Ram declined to comment on the arrest.