Rajasthan ACB arrests VDO in Bundi for ₹50,000 bribe in panchayat scam
Synopsis
A Village Development Officer in Bundi was caught red-handed throwing bribe money onto the road when he spotted the ACB team closing in — a dramatic end to a trap operation that exposed an alleged demand of ₹4.50 lakh to release payment for a ₹15 lakh public water-point project. The arrest underscores how rural development funds remain a persistent target for corruption at the panchayat level in Rajasthan.
Key Takeaways
Mukesh Kumar , VDO of Gardada Gram Panchayat , Bundi , was arrested on 15 June by the Rajasthan ACB .
He was caught accepting ₹50,000 in cash, allegedly part of a total demand of ₹4.50 lakh — 30% of a ₹15 lakh Panghat construction project.
Upon seeing the ACB team, the accused allegedly threw the cash onto the road in an attempt to dispose of evidence.
The operation was supervised by DIG Omprakash Meena and led by DSP Premchand of ACB Bundi.
A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered; investigation continues under ADG Smita Srivastava and IG S.
Citizens can report corruption to ACB via toll-free helpline 1064 or WhatsApp at 9413502834 .
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Bundi, Rajasthan, arrested a Village Development Officer (VDO) red-handed on Monday, 15 June while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹50,000 — part of a larger demand linked to a public infrastructure project in Gardada Gram Panchayat. The operation was conducted on the directions of the ACB headquarters and marks another instance of the bureau's ongoing anti-graft drive at the grassroots level of Rajasthan's rural administration.
Who Was Arrested and What He Allegedly Did
The accused, Mukesh Kumar, aged 30, a resident of Jayasthal village under Gendoli police station limits in Bundi district, was serving as the VDO of Gardada Gram Panchayat under Bundi Panchayat Samiti. According to Director General, ACB, Govind Gupta, Kumar had allegedly demanded approximately ₹4.50 lakh — equivalent to 30 per cent of the total project cost of ₹15 lakh — to release payment for a public water point (Panghat) construction project completed by the complainant's firm, Taru & Company. The complainant alleged sustained harassment before approaching the ACB.
How the Trap Operation Unfolded
Following verification of the complaint, the ACB conducted a trap operation under the supervision of Omprakash Meena, Deputy Inspector General, ACB Kota Range, and led on the ground by Premchand, Deputy Superintendent of Police, ACB Bundi. Kumar was caught accepting ₹50,000 in cash outside his rented accommodation. He initially pocketed the money but, upon spotting the approaching ACB team, reportedly pulled the cash from his pocket and threw it onto the road in an apparent bid to destroy evidence — a move that was observed and documented by the bureau's officers.
Legal Action and Oversight
Kumar has been taken into custody. Interrogation and other legal formalities are being carried out under the supervision of Additional Director General, ACB, Smita Srivastava, and Inspector General, ACB, S. Parimala. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered, and further investigation is underway. This comes amid a broader pattern of ACB operations targeting mid- and lower-level government functionaries in Rajasthan, where panchayat-level officials have increasingly featured in bribery cases involving rural development funds.
ACB's Appeal to Citizens
The Anti-Corruption Bureau has urged citizens to report corruption through its 24x7 toll-free helpline 1064 or WhatsApp helpline 9413502834, assuring complete assistance in ensuring that legitimate work is processed without the payment of bribes.
Point of View
But the detail that matters is the accused throwing cash onto the road — a reflexive act that speaks to how brazen panchayat-level corruption has become. Demanding 30 per cent of a rural infrastructure project's cost as a kickback is not an outlier; it reflects a structural rot in the disbursement chain for rural development funds. Rajasthan's ACB has ramped up trap operations, but arrests at the VDO level rarely deter the patronage networks above them. The real accountability test is whether the investigation travels upward — or stops at the man who threw the money.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested by the Rajasthan ACB in Bundi?
Mukesh Kumar , a 30-year-old Village Development Officer posted at Gardada Gram Panchayat under Bundi Panchayat Samiti , was arrested on 15 June . He was caught red-handed accepting ₹50,000 in alleged bribe money from a contractor.
What was the bribe allegedly demanded for?
Kumar allegedly demanded ₹4.50 lakh — 30 per cent of the total project cost of ₹15 lakh — to release payment for a completed public water-point (Panghat) construction project executed by Taru & Company in Gardada Gram Panchayat.
What happened during the trap operation?
The ACB conducted a sting in which the complainant handed over ₹50,000 to Kumar outside his rented accommodation. When Kumar spotted the ACB team, he allegedly threw the cash onto the road in an attempt to destroy evidence, but was apprehended on the spot.
What legal action has been taken against the accused?
A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against Kumar. He is in ACB custody and is being interrogated under the supervision of Additional Director General Smita Srivastava and Inspector General S. Parimala .
How can citizens report corruption to the Rajasthan ACB?
The Anti-Corruption Bureau operates a 24x7 toll-free helpline at 1064 and a WhatsApp helpline at 9413502834 . The bureau has assured citizens of complete assistance in getting their legitimate work done without paying bribes.
