IN AN active measure against bureaucratic corruption, Jabalpur division of the Lokayukta Police apprehended an Assistant Grade-2 clerk redhanded while accepting a bribe at the Block Education Office in Narayanganj, Mandla district on Thursday. The accused, identified as 58- year-old Nokhelal Beliya, son of late Ram Singh Beliya, was caught accepting a preliminary bribe installment of Rs. 5,000. The operation was initiated following a formal complaint lodged by Dashrath Lal Barmaiya, who serves as a peon at Seoni Mal Girls Ashram. According to the official statement, the complainant had recently received his General Provident Fund (GPF) withdrawal of Rs. 1,00,000. Following the disbursement, Beliya demanded an illicit commission of Rs. 10,000 from the complainant as a reward for processing the application.

 

Upon receiving the complaint, the Lokayukta Superintendent of Police authorised an immediate verification process. During the preliminary investigation, the negotiated bribe amount was settled at Rs 8,000. A specialised trap team, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Rekha Prajapati and Inspector Uma Kushwaha, successfully intercepted the accused at his office as he accepted the first installment of the negotiated sum. The accused is currently facing stringent legal action under Sections 7, 13(1)B, and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Amendment 2018). The Lokayukta organization has subsequently issued a public appeal, urging citizens to report any government officials demanding illicit financial favors directly to their Jabalpur civic center headquarters.