Bengal ACB arrests revenue inspector for ₹4,000 EWS certificate bribe in Aushgram
Synopsis
A West Bengal revenue inspector was caught red-handed accepting ₹4,000 to issue an EWS certificate — a document meant to help the economically vulnerable access reservations. The ACB sting at Aushgram's Land and Land Reforms Office follows persistent resident complaints, and investigators are now probing whether a wider corrupt network exists inside the department.
Key Takeaways
The West Bengal Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a revenue inspector on 29 October 2026 in Aushgram, East Burdwan .
The official allegedly demanded ₹4,000 to process an Economically Weaker Section (EWS) certificate .
The accused was caught red-handed during a sting operation at the Land and Land Reforms Office .
A case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act ; investigators are probing possible network links within the department.
The ACB cited persistent complaints from residents about extortion at the office prior to the raid.
The West Bengal Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a state government revenue inspector on Wednesday evening, 29 October 2026, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹4,000 to process an Economically Weaker Section (EWS) certificate in East Burdwan district. The accused was caught red-handed in a sting operation at the Land and Land Reforms Office in Aushgram, confirmed an ACB official on Thursday.
How the Trap Was Laid
The ACB launched its investigation after receiving a specific complaint alleging that the revenue inspector had demanded ₹4,000 in exchange for issuing an official EWS certificate — a document that entitles economically vulnerable citizens to reservations in education and employment. Acting on the complaint, a special ACB team positioned itself at the Aushgram office on Wednesday evening.
Officers conducted a sudden raid and apprehended the official at the precise moment he accepted the bribe from the complainant. According to the bureau, the surprise action briefly disrupted normal activity across the government facility.
Legal Proceedings Initiated
The ACB has registered a formal case against the arrested inspector under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Investigators are now examining whether other officials or a wider network within the department may be implicated in similar corrupt practices, according to bureau officials.
Pattern of Complaints in the Office
Notably, the operation was not triggered by a single tip-off alone — the ACB confirmed that persistent complaints from local residents about illicit extortion and bribery at the Aushgram Land and Land Reforms Office had been building prior to Wednesday's raid. This suggests the alleged practice may not have been an isolated incident.
The EWS certificate, a relatively new category introduced after the 103rd Constitutional Amendment of 2019, has become a pressure point in several states, where applicants reportedly face demands for unofficial payments to expedite processing.
ACB's Zero-Tolerance Warning
In a statement following the arrest, the ACB reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward public sector corruption, pledging to intensify enforcement across state departments to ensure transparent, bribe-free service delivery. The bureau has not yet disclosed a timeline for completing its broader departmental probe.
The case is likely to draw scrutiny toward administrative oversight at district-level land and revenue offices across West Bengal, where citizens often depend on such certificates to access welfare entitlements.
Point of View
000 bribe is a small sum by corruption benchmarks, but its target — an EWS certificate designed to help the poorest access reservations — makes this a particularly corrosive form of graft. When the very machinery created to uplift the economically vulnerable becomes a rent-extraction point, it compounds exclusion rather than addressing it. The ACB's claim of 'persistent complaints' before the arrest raises an uncomfortable question: why did it take a formal complainant-led sting rather than proactive monitoring to act? West Bengal's district-level land offices have featured in prior ACB actions, suggesting a systemic rather than individual problem that departmental oversight has so far failed to fix.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the revenue inspector arrested in Aushgram?
The inspector was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹4,000 to issue an Economically Weaker Section (EWS) certificate at the Land and Land Reforms Office in Aushgram, East Burdwan. The West Bengal ACB caught him red-handed during a planned sting operation on 29 October 2026.
What is an EWS certificate and why does it matter?
An EWS certificate is an official document that certifies a person belongs to the Economically Weaker Section, entitling them to a 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions under the 103rd Constitutional Amendment of 2019. Demanding bribes to issue such certificates directly harms the citizens the scheme is designed to protect.
What legal action has been taken against the arrested official?
The ACB has initiated formal proceedings under the Prevention of Corruption Act against the arrested revenue inspector. Investigators are also probing whether other officials or networks within the department are involved in similar corrupt practices.
Was this an isolated incident or part of a wider problem?
The ACB confirmed that the operation followed persistent complaints from residents about extortion and bribery at the Aushgram office, suggesting the alleged misconduct may not have been isolated. The bureau has indicated it will probe possible departmental network links.
What has the ACB said about future enforcement?
The ACB issued a statement reiterating a zero-tolerance stance on public sector corruption, pledging to intensify enforcement measures across West Bengal's state departments to ensure transparent, bribe-free service delivery for citizens.
