Bribery Scandal Unfolds in Madhya Pradesh Panchayat

An employee of a panchayat in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000 by the Lokayukta's special establishment police. The accountant, Manoj Kumar Bairagi, allegedly demanded Rs 50,000 to release funds for a village road project, soliciting action from authorities.

An official in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district was apprehended while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000, according to authorities. The incident involved Manoj Kumar Bairagi, an accountant with the Janpad Panchayat in Gandhwani, as confirmed by Lokayukta's special establishment police (SPE).

The investigation followed a complaint from a representative of Balwari village's sarpanch. As per the complaint, a concrete road worth Rs 10 lakh was built in the village, and Rs 3 lakh had already been disbursed. The accountant purportedly demanded Rs 50,000 to release the remaining funds.

Lokayukta SPE deputy superintendent Praveen Singh Baghel noted that further legal proceedings would ensue against the accused accountant, highlighting ongoing efforts against corruption in local governance.

(With inputs from agencies.)