Jabalpur unit of Lokayukta Police trapped a Patwari posted in Katni district while accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 for carrying out land demarcation work, on Tuesday. The action was conducted under the directions of Director General of Police (Lokayukta) Yogesh Deshmukh and the guidance of Deputy Inspector General Manoj Singh as part of the anti-corruption drive being carried out by the organisation. Superintendent of Police, Lokayukta Jabalpur, Anjulata Patle informed that the accused, identified as Swayam Prakash Mehra (35), Patwari of Halka No. 8 in Kaudiya village under Slimnabad tehsil of Katni district was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe at his private office located on Bohri Band Road in Sleeminabad.

 

The complainant Shivkumar Jaiswal (52), a resident of Kaudiya village, had purchased 1.80 acres of land in the name of his wife, Devwati Jaiswal. He alleged that the patwari had demanded Rs 5,000 as an offering for carrying out the demarcation of the property. After verifying the complaint, Lokayukta team laid a trap. During the operation, the complainant handed over the tainted currency notes to the accused at his rented private office, following which the team apprehended Mehra while accepting the bribe. A case has been registered against the accused under Sections 7, 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. The trap team comprised Inspector Rahul Gajbhiye, Trap Laying Officer Inspector Shashikala Maskule and other members of the Jabalpur Lokayukta unit.