Vigilance crackdowns: 5 arrested in 3 bribery cases

Lucknow: In one of the biggest anti-corruption drives by the UP vigilance establishment in recent months, five persons, including four govt officials, were arrested on Thursday after being allegedly caught accepting bribes totalling Rs 1.34 lakh in three separate cases in Hapur, Kannauj and Baghpat.

In the first operation, the vigilance establishment’s Meerut sector team arrested Jaideep, a stenographer posted in the office of the assistant commissioner, state tax division-4, Hapur, while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 24,000.

The complainant, a businessman, alleged that Jaideep called him and said he could waive his tax liability of Rs 48,000 if he was paid half the amount. The trader then lodged a complaint with vigilance officials, who laid a trap and arrested Jaideep.

In the second case, the Kanpur sector of the vigilance establishment arrested Ashwin Kumar Verma, sub-registrar posted at Sadar tehsil in Kannauj, and Jitendra Kumar Kushwaha, a private individual, while allegedly accepting Rs 60,000 as a bribe.

Officials said the complainant alleged that Rs 60,000 was being demanded for executing the registry of agricultural land in Kandroli Bangar village in Kannauj. The complainant stated that despite the land registration being legitimate, he was forced to pay illegal gratification for the work to proceed. After verification, a trap was laid and both Verma and Kushwaha were arrested.

In the third case, district supply officer (DSO) Anup Tiwari and regional food officer (RFO) Jogendra Singh, both posted in Baghpat, were arrested for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a ration dealer.

The UP vigilance establishment appealed to citizens to report any demands for bribes by public servants. Complaints can be lodged on the anti-corruption helpline number 9454401866.