Sleuths of Lokayukta police special establishment, Jabalpur, trapped a Chief Executive Officer of Janpad Panchayat, Junnardeo, and his driver taking a bribe of Rs 4 lakhs for providing technical clearance of development works from Secretary of Gram Panchayat, on Friday.

The accused have been identified as Surendra Kumar Sahu, posted as Chief Executive Officer of Junnardeo Janpad Panchayat in Chhindwara district and his driver Mithun Pawar.

The officers of Lokayukta Police nabbed the corrupt officer Surendra Kumar Sahu, when he was taking bribe of Rs 4 lakh through his driver Mithun Pawar from complainant named Rohan Yaduvanshi (26), son of Sarvanlal Yaduvanshi, resident of Gram Panchayat Bilawar Kala in Junnardeo.

Inspector of Lokayukta Jabalpur Swapnil Das informed that an appellant named Rohan Yaduvanshi lodged a written complaint to Superintendent of Police, Lokayukta Jabalpur, Sanjay Sahu that his father Sarvanlal Yaduvanshi is posted as Secretary, Gram Panchayat Kukar Pani under Junnardeo Tehsil in Chhindwara district. Health of his father is not good and he assisting him for completing official works. His father had forwarded applications of technical clearance for construction of a pond, two culverts and land improvement of a farmer to CEO of Janpad Panchayat, who demanded bribe of Rs 4.25 lakh for providing technical clearances.

Acting on the complaint, a team of Lokayukta Police fielded the appellant for collecting evidences. Once the information was confirmed, Lokayukta team reached the identified location and found that the corrupt CEO directed the appellant for handing over the bribe amount to his driver. Lokayukta team trapped the driver Mithun Pawar when he collected identified currency notes. The driver confessed that he accepted the cash on direction of CEO Surendra Kumar Sahu. Lokayukta Police have registered a case against the corrupt officer under relevant sections of Prevention of Corruption Act.