Rajasthan ACB arrests Pali municipal worker for ₹25,000 bribe in lease case
Synopsis
A retired panchayat worker allegedly continued duties in his son's name at a Pali municipal council — and was caught taking a ₹25,000 bribe for a lease. The ACB's sting has exposed not just a single corrupt transaction but a potentially illegal employment arrangement that went undetected for months.
Key Takeaways
Parmanand Sharma , a contractual worker of Sojat Road Municipal Council , was arrested on 16 July 2026 for allegedly accepting a ₹25,000 bribe.
The bribe was demanded to facilitate issuance of a lease on an ancestral plot, allegedly on behalf of the Accountant, JEN, and EO of the council.
The ₹25,000 was recovered from the right pocket of Sharma's trousers immediately after the transaction.
Investigators found Sharma had allegedly been working in place of his son Sunil Sharma , who was appointed after Parmanand crossed the age limit of 65 years .
A case will be registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act ; investigation is supervised by ADGP Smita Srivastava and IG S.
ACB's anti-corruption helpline: 1064 (24×7) and WhatsApp: 9413502834 .
The Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a contractual worker of the Sojat Road Municipal Council in Pali district on 16 July 2026 while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹25,000 to facilitate the issuance of a lease on an ancestral plot. The accused, identified as Parmanand Sharma, was caught red-handed by a trap team, with the bribe amount recovered from the right pocket of his trousers immediately after the transaction.
How the Trap Was Laid
The operation was initiated by the ACB Pali-II Unit following a complaint alleging that Sharma was demanding ₹25,000 on behalf of the Accountant, Junior Engineer (JEN), and Executive Officer (EO) of the municipal council to process a lease in the complainant's family's name. The complaint was first verified before the trap was executed.
The trap team was led by Additional Superintendent of Police Derawar Singh, operating under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General of Police Narayan Togas, ACB Range (Jodhpur). The bribe was seized on the spot, and Sharma was taken into custody.
The Irregular Employment Arrangement
Investigators uncovered a layered irregularity during the probe. Sharma had previously retired from the Sojat Road Panchayat and had continued as a contractual employee with the Municipal Council for nearly six years until December 2025. After crossing the contractual age limit of 65 years, his son Sunil Sharma was reportedly appointed in his place on a contractual basis.
However, according to the ACB, Parmanand Sharma allegedly continued discharging duties in his son's stead — raising serious questions about oversight within the municipal body. The bureau has said it will examine the legality of this arrangement with the concerned authorities.
Senior Officers Overseeing Investigation
Further interrogation of the accused is underway under the supervision of Additional Director General of Police Smita Srivastava and Inspector General S. Parimala. The ACB confirmed it will register a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and continue its investigation into the matter.
Notably, the case spotlights a recurring vulnerability in municipal contracting — where retired officials or their proxies allegedly exploit informal access to extract payments for routine civic services such as lease issuances.
ACB's Appeal to Citizens
The Anti-Corruption Bureau has urged citizens to report instances of corruption through its 24×7 helpline (1064) or WhatsApp helpline (9413502834), assuring full assistance in ensuring that legitimate public work is carried out without bribery. The bureau's proactive outreach reflects a broader push by Rajasthan's anti-graft machinery to encourage public participation in curbing corruption at the grassroots level.
Point of View
000 — it is about how municipal systems allow retired officials to remain operationally active through proxy appointments, creating accountability black holes. If Parmanand Sharma was indeed performing duties in his son's name for months, the failure is as much institutional as individual. The ACB's decision to probe the legality of the employment arrangement is the more consequential thread here. Rajasthan's municipal councils have long been flagged as corruption-prone at the last-mile service delivery level; this arrest is a data point in a much larger pattern.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested by the Rajasthan ACB in the Pali bribe case?
The ACB arrested Parmanand Sharma , a contractual worker associated with the Sojat Road Municipal Council in Pali district, on 16 July 2026. He was caught allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹25,000 to help issue a lease on an ancestral plot.
Why was the ₹25,000 bribe being demanded?
According to the ACB, Sharma allegedly demanded ₹25,000 on behalf of the Accountant, Junior Engineer, and Executive Officer of the Sojat Road Municipal Council to facilitate the issuance of a lease in the complainant's family's name.
What irregular employment arrangement did the ACB uncover?
Investigators found that Sharma had retired from the Sojat Road Panchayat and later worked contractually with the Municipal Council for about six years. After crossing the age limit of 65, his son Sunil Sharma was reportedly appointed in his place, but Parmanand Sharma allegedly continued performing the duties himself.
What legal action will be taken against the accused?
The ACB will register a case against Parmanand Sharma under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Further interrogation is underway under the supervision of ADGP Smita Srivastava and IG S. Parimala, and the legality of the employment arrangement will also be examined.
How can citizens report corruption to the Rajasthan ACB?
The Rajasthan ACB operates a 24×7 helpline at 1064 and a WhatsApp helpline at 9413502834. Citizens can contact either channel to report corruption and seek assistance in getting legitimate public work done without paying bribes.
