Bhubaneswar, Dec. 17: An assistant sub-inspector and a constable of traffic police station were suspended today following allegations of taking bribe from two persons for violating traffic rules yesterday.

Deputy commissioner of police Nitinjeet Singh today suspended assistant sub-inspector Subhendu Sahu and constable Ashok Sethi following allegations from independent MLA Pratap Sarangi against these two personnel of taking Rs 50 from one of his acquaintances yesterday without giving the latter any receipt.

Sarangi, who lodged a complaint with the traffic police officers, said that his relative Bikram Keshari Patra had been caught near Rabindra Mandap Square by the cops for not wearing helmet while driving a two-wheeler.

Sahu and Sethi, asked Patra to pay Rs 50 as fine, but they did not provide him the receipt for collecting the fine.

After Patra informed the matter to Sarangi, he lodged a complaint with top police officers about the matter.

“If such incidents can happen in front of the Assembly, one can imagine what must be going on at other places,” said Sarangi.

Patra and his friends later staged a protest in front of the traffic police station demanding action against the ASI and the constable.

Later, Singh sought a report from assistant commissioner of police Binod Das on the issue.

“The deputy commissioner has suspended the duo and ordered an inquiry into the matter. We take the matter seriously as a people’s representative has brought it to our notice,” said Das.

“As my receipt book was finished, I asked him to come to the police station and collect the receipt. But, he instead lodged a complaint against me,” said Sahu.