The Lokayukta Police in Indore arrested Pradeep Kumar Khare, District Project Coordinator of the District Education Centre in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh, on Monday, 19 May, after he was allegedly caught red-handed accepting a bribe of ₹1 lakh. The arrest, conducted through a carefully laid trap, has sent shockwaves through the district's education administration.

How the Trap Was Laid

Dilip Sadhav, Assistant Engineer-in-Charge at the District Education Centre, filed a formal complaint with the Indore Lokayukta office after allegedly facing repeated bribe demands from Khare. According to Lokayukta officials, the bribe was sought in connection with the construction of toilets in government schools under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, the Centre's flagship school education scheme. Acting on the complaint, Lokayukta officers laid a trap and apprehended Khare at the moment he allegedly accepted the marked currency of ₹1 lakh.

Scale of the Project Involved

The construction work at the centre of the alleged corruption involves 122 toilets across various government school premises in Dhar district, for which approximately ₹3.42 crore had been sanctioned. The Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan prioritises basic sanitation infrastructure in government schools, particularly to support girl students and uphold hygiene standards — making the alleged diversion of these funds especially concerning to local residents and education activists.

Legal Action and Custody

The entire operation was conducted under the supervision of senior Lokayukta officials. A case has been registered against Khare under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and he has since been remanded to judicial custody. Lokayukta authorities have assured a time-bound probe and strict action to ensure that funds earmarked for student welfare are not misappropriated.

Wider Investigation Under Way

Officials confirmed that a detailed investigation is ongoing to determine whether other functionaries were complicit in the alleged corruption and to assess the quality and progress of the toilet construction work. This incident comes as the Madhya Pradesh government has publicly emphasised transparency in the execution of centrally sponsored schemes. Notably, the alleged involvement of a senior district-level coordinator — someone responsible for overseeing fund utilisation — has drawn sharp criticism from parents, teachers, and civil society groups, who have welcomed the arrest and expressed hope it will deter similar misconduct within the education department. Lokayukta authorities say the probe will determine the full extent of any financial irregularities.