Bhubaneswar, Nov. 6: Odisha Police Association has demanded an inquiry into an incident where a sub-inspector with Boudh police station was allegedly assaulted by the superintendent for offering a Rs 20,000 bribe.

The incident took place on October 19 at the police superintendent's (SP) office when sub-inspector (SI) Prahalad Kanhar, 54, working with the reserve section of the district police allegedly offered bribe to SP B. Gangadhar.

"I was absent from duty for around two months because I was sick and undergoing treatment. The SP cleared my salary and asked me to host a party. I failed to understand what he wanted and later decided to offer him some money. When I reached his office with the cash, he started assaulting me. He slapped me and even hit me with his shoes," said Kanhar.

The SP denied the allegations of assault. "I was shocked when he offered me money. I immediately called the additional SP to my official chamber and informed him about the matter. The cash of Rs 20,000 has been seized and we have also suspended the SI. The allegations of assault are completely baseless," said the SP.

However, the police association has demanded a fair probe into the incident.

"A fact-finding committee should be constituted to find out whether any compulsion was there on the policeman to offer the bribe. We will discuss the matter with the director-general of police and demand an independent inquiry by an Odia IPS officer in the rank of additional director-general," said Odisha Police Association president Satyajit Mishra.

The association members also wondered how an SI could dare to offer bribe to an SP. "In my entire career, I have never come across a single incident where a policeman has offered bribe to an IPS officer," said an association member.