Across India, several government officials were caught accepting bribes in high-profile sting operations conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), highlighting ongoing efforts to curb corruption in public services.
1. Rewari, Haryana – BDPO Arrested
In Rewari, the ACB caught Saurabh Upadhyay, Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) of the Rewari Block Committee, red-handed while accepting ₹35,000. The bribe was demanded in exchange for clearing pending development work bills worth nearly ₹50 lakh. The complaint was lodged by Ravindra Khola, husband of Rewari Block Committee Chairperson Mamta Yadav. The BDPO allegedly demanded around 10 percent commission on the development works.
2. Bijapur, Chhattisgarh – Postal Officials Caught
The CBI conducted a late-night raid in Bijapur, a Naxal-affected district in Chhattisgarh, and arrested four postal department officials. They were allegedly accepting bribes ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 for joining, relieving, and transfers. The accused include Shastri Kumar Paikara (Sub-Divisional Inspector, Postal), Malauth Shobhan, Ambedkar Singh (Mail Overseers), and Santosh Andrik (Rural Postal Sevak, ABPM). In total, the team seized about ₹50,000 in bribe money. The alleged malpractice had been going on for the past two years.
3. Churhat, Madhya Pradesh – SDM Reader Caught
In Churhat, MP, the Rewa Lokayukta caught Ramhit Tiwari, reader of the SDM office, accepting ₹10,000 to influence a stay order concerning an ancestral land dispute. The complainant, Gajendra Singh, alleged that Tiwari demanded ₹50,000 to pass the order in his favour and had already taken ₹25,000 earlier. The arrest was carried out near Saryu Prasad Prajapati’s grocery shop, causing a stir in the SDM office.
4. Dewas, Madhya Pradesh – Kendriya Vidyalaya Clerk Arrested
In Dewas, MP, the CBI arrested Ranjan Bharti, a Senior Secretariat Assistant at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bank Note Press, while accepting ₹60,000 from a security contractor, Vineet Rana, for clearing bills worth ₹3.84 lakh related to security and HR services. The CBI laid a trap following a written complaint and produced the accused in a Special Court, which remanded him to three days police custody.
5. Lohardaga, Jharkhand – Panchayat Secretary Arrested
In Lohardaga district, Jharkhand, the ACB arrested Surendra Gupta, Panchayat Secretary of Bhadgaon and Dandu Panchayats, for demanding ₹15,000 in bribe to sign the master roll for work done under VB-G-RAM-G (formerly MGNREGA). The complainant, Krishna Oraon, had refused to pay the bribe, prompting ACB action. The arrest took place at the Senha Block Office, with a subsequent search of the accused’s residence.
