Jaipur, April 16 (IANS) In a major action against corruption, the Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday caught Nadoti Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Kajal Meena, her Reader Dinesh Kumar Saini, and Senior Assistant Praveen Dhakad red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 60,000 in Karauli district.

During the operation, officials also recovered an additional Rs 4 lakh in cash, the source of which is under investigation.

According to ACB Director General of Police Govind Gupta, the action was carried out by the ACB’s Sawai Madhopur unit following a complaint alleging that the SDM, through her Reader, was demanding a bribe for issuing the final decree (Takasnama) related to the partition of the complainant’s land.

The complainant stated that an initial demand of Rs 1 lakh was made, which was later negotiated down to Rs 50,000. After receiving the complaint, the ACB conducted a confidential verification, during which the Reader allegedly demanded Rs 50,000 on behalf of the SDM and an additional Rs 10,000 for himself.

Acting on this, a trap was laid on April 16. The complainant was called to the SDM office in Nadoti, where the bribe amount of Rs 60,000 was handed over.

The money was first received by the Reader and subsequently passed on to Senior Assistant Praveen Dhakad.

During the operation, the ACB team confirmed the alleged involvement of the SDM through a recorded mobile conversation in which she is said to have consented to the bribe transaction.

Soon after, the accused were apprehended red-handed.

A search of the bag used to carry the bribe money led to the recovery of an additional Rs 4 lakh, the source of which is currently under investigation.

The trap was executed under the supervision of ACB Deputy Inspector General Dr Rameshwar Singh and led by Additional Superintendent of Police Gyan Singh Chaudhary of the Sawai Madhopur unit.

Further proceedings are being conducted under the supervision of Additional Director General Smita Srivastava and Inspector General S. Parimala.

The ACB has stated that a case will be registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and further investigation is underway to determine the source of the recovered cash and the extent of involvement of the accused.

–IANS

arc/pgh