Bribery Scandal: Madhya Pradesh RTO Constable and Accomplice Arrested
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Jabalpur, March 25 (NationPress) – The Lokayukta police in Madhya Pradesh announced the arrest of a female RTO constable along with her male accomplice for allegedly accepting bribes from a vehicle owner.
The operation unfolded when the constable and her associate were caught in the act of taking a bribe of Rs 4,500 on the Jabalpur-Nagpur Highway, under the guise of ensuring the vehicle's smooth passage.
A complaint had been lodged with the Lokayukta by Prashant Dattatray Jadhav Jeevansagar, a vehicle owner hailing from Mumbai, regarding the unlawful demand for money.
Responding to the complaint, the Lokayukta team executed a sting operation that led to the immediate capture of the female constable, Shweta Ahirwar, and her aide, Mohit Sahu, as they accepted the bribe.
A senior Lokayukta official stated that the investigation corroborated the allegations, confirming the legitimacy of the complaint.
On March 25, Ahirwar and Sahu were apprehended while they collected the Rs 4,500 from the vehicle driver. The officer indicated that legal proceedings are set to commence against both individuals.
The bribe was reportedly solicited to facilitate the passage of approximately 10 trucks from the jurisdiction overseen by the Bargi police station in Jabalpur district.
The arrested individuals face charges under Sections 7, 12, 13(1)B, and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. During the investigation, it was uncovered that both had been persistently extorting money from passing vehicles.
This incident is not an isolated case, as Madhya Pradesh’s RTO department previously made headlines when 52 kilograms of gold and cash amounting to Rs 10 crore were seized from a former RTO constable, Saurabh Sharma, in January last year in Bhopal.
The extensive scam has been scrutinized by various agencies including the Lokayukta, the ED, and the Income Tax Department, resulting in the arrest of Sharma and his two accomplices, Chetan Singh Gaur and Sharad Jaiswal.