IN YET another success for Jabalpur Lokayukta, a Lady Panchayat Inspector named Kanchan Jha posted at Panagar Janpad Panchayat was caught red-handed accepting pay off of Rs 4000 on Thursday. The Lady Panchayat Inspector unaware of the trap arranged by Lokayukta team demanded to defer proceedings citing indisposed condition. About the case it is informed that village Mudia of Panagar development, appellant named Shivkumar Patel posted as village secretary is being subjected to investigation by panchayat administration in view of complaint filed against the village secretary. In view of ongoing investigations being carried out all documents were in custody of the panchayat inspector. The appellant in his complaint stated that due to ongoing investigations he was in need of documents. He requested the Panchayat Inspector seeking record of documents.

 

The demand made by the appellant was legal, while the Panchayat Inspector openly demanded money against the records sought by the appellant. Sensing major foul, the appellant made repeated supplication before the Panchayat Inspector but she demanded money. The appellant then filed a complaint with the Lokayukta, in view of complaint a trap was set on Thursday. As decided, chemically treated notes were given to the appellant who reached the panchayat office to fulfill the demand made by the Panchayat Inspector. Unaware of the trap, the appellant reached the office and handed over a sum of Rs 4,000 to Kanchan Jha.

 

The Lokayukta team present outside the Panchayat office stepped in while the lady was accepting the amount and was caught red-handed. Taken aback, the Lady Panchayat Inspector pretended of being seriously ill and made the Lokayukta team move.

 

Still the workout in the trap continued till 3 pm and summarily concluded. Lokayukta team informed that the accused Lady Panchayat Inspector named Kanchan Jha posted at Janpad Panchayat Panagar had demanded money from the appellant (Shivkumar Patel) facing panchayat investigations to get back cash book, bill book and passbook. The demand to get documents were legal while the Lady Panchayat Inspector demanded Rs 4000 for the work. In view of complaint, a team of Lokayukta headed by DSP Lokayukta J P Verma along with Inspector Manju Tirki, Dinesh Dubey, Laxmi Rajak, Amit Gwadey, Shard Pandey, Rakesh Vishwakarma, and others reached Janpad Pangar at 1 pm in view of trap arranged. The Panchayat Inspector was caught red-handed. Post raid, a case has been framed against the Lady Panchayat Inspector.