PATNA, Oct. 15 -- A Sub-Inspector (SI) of police was caught red-handed by Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) sleuths on Tuesday while accepting a bribe of Rs.12,000 from a complainant to avoid taking action against a thief, officials said. The arrested SI, Raushan Kumar Rai, posted at Manshi police station in Khagaria, will be produced before the Special Vigilance Court in Bhagalpur on Wednesday. According to the VIB, Raushan demanded the bribe from Abhishek Kumar, who had lodged a complaint against a thief accused of stealing a battery from a parked tractor. Instead of acting against the accused, the SI allegedly threatened the complainant to pay a bribe, failing which he would implicate him in favour of the battery thief. Based on Abhishek's written complaint, the VIB took swift action and caught Raushan red-handed within the premises of Manshi police station. Raushan was accused of repeatedly demanding money from Abhishek to remove his name from the complaint. The VIB said an investigation is underway to determine whether other officials were involved. Following his arrest, a case was registered against him at the Vigilance Police Station in Patna under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. This year, the total number of government officials caught red-handed by the Vigilance has risen to 84 in 74 separate traps, with a cumulative bribe recovery amounting to over Rs.28.33 lakh....