The Uttar Pradesh vigilance department has started a probe into the assets of two suspended IPS officers — one accused of extorting and abetting the suicide of a businessman and the other of facilitating transfers and promotions in exchange for money.

The vigilance investigation is in addition to the departmental inquiry for corruption against Manilal Patidar, the former superintendent of police of Mahoba district and now absconding, and Abhishek Dixit, senior superintendent of police of Allahabad.

Uttar Pradesh police have announced a reward of Rs 50,000 to anybody providing information leading to the arrest of Patidar, who is absconding ever since businessman Indrakant Tripathi died of a bullet injury on September 13.

Tripathi had allegedly shot himself in his car at Kabrai on September 8. A day earlier, he had sent a video message to his contacts alleging that Patidar was demanding Rs 6 lakh every month from him and threatening to implicate him in a false case or kill him in an encounter.

An inquiry conducted by a special investigation concluded that Tripathi had been under mental pressure and had committed suicide by shooting himself with his revolver. The report found Patidar guilty of abetting the suicide.

Dixit, who was the senior superintendent of police of Allahabad, was suspended on September 9 on multiple complaints of corruption in transfers and postings in the department.

The police on Monday announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for the arrest of Arvind Sen, a suspended deputy inspector-general, for his involvement in a corruption case in the veterinary department in 2018. Sen had allegedly accepted bribes while probing a tender scam.