Rajasthan SOG ASP Mukesh Kumar Soni suspended in ₹2 crore bribery case
Synopsis
A senior Rajasthan SOG officer has been formally suspended after being arrested for allegedly demanding a ₹2 crore bribe to bury a plot-fraud case. What makes it remarkable: the ACB says Soni communicated the bribe amount by typing it on his phone — and verified the demand over three days using digital recordings before moving in.
Key Takeaways
SOG ASP Mukesh Kumar Soni has been suspended by the Rajasthan Home Department , effective 27 September 2026 , following his arrest in a ₹2 crore bribery case.
The suspension order was issued after the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) approved a report submitted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) .
Alleged middleman Sajjan Singh Jain , alias Tatla, was arrested on 26 September while allegedly accepting the bribe; Soni was arrested the next day.
The bribe was allegedly demanded in exchange for filing a closure report in a 272-plot Udaipur land fraud case and returning seized assets including 2 kg of gold and ₹11 lakh cash .
The ACB recovered files relating to 41 plots from Soni's office and is probing whether documents bearing UDA seals are genuine or fabricated.
Departmental proceedings will run alongside the ongoing criminal investigation; an FIR in the underlying plot-fraud was first registered at Surajpol Police Station in 2022 .
The Rajasthan government has formally suspended Special Operations Group (SOG) Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mukesh Kumar Soni, effective 27 September 2026, following his arrest in an alleged ₹2 crore bribery case linked to a 272-plot land matter in Udaipur. The Home Department issued the suspension order after receiving approval from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), acting on a report submitted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Background: The Udaipur Land Case
The alleged bribery is tied to an Udaipur plot case in which, according to investigators, forged documents and lease deeds were created for vacant and cancelled plots to facilitate ownership changes, after which the plots were allegedly sold. An FIR in the matter was registered at Surajpol Police Station in 2022. Subsequently, the Municipal Corporation cancelled 48 lease deeds in connection with the same case.
The SOG had earlier arrested former District Minority Officer Hemlata Kankariya and her husband, Niranjan Mogra, in the same matter. During that investigation, approximately 2 kg of gold jewellery and ₹11 lakh in cash were reportedly recovered from Mogra's residence.
How the ACB Built Its Case
According to the ACB, Soni allegedly demanded a ₹2 crore bribe through two middlemen in exchange for filing a final report to close the case and returning the seized items. The demand was reportedly verified over three days through digital recordings after a complaint was received.
On 26 September, ACB arrested alleged middleman Sajjan Singh Jain, alias Tatla, while he was allegedly accepting the bribe amount. Soni was arrested the following day, on 27 September.
Investigators took Sajjan Singh to Soni's residence and conducted an on-site verification. Investigating Officer Mahavir Singh Shekhawat led the operation. The ACB stated that Sajjan Singh had frequently visited Soni's residence in connection with the alleged transaction.
Key Details of the Alleged Transaction
The ACB's investigation revealed a notably cautious approach allegedly adopted by Soni. On 23 September, he reportedly shifted the scheduled meeting at Rani Road three times — from 10 am to 1 pm to 5 pm — and ultimately arrived approximately 90 minutes late, reaching the location at around 6:30 pm. Sajjan Singh and complainant Niranjan Mogra had been waiting near the Mahakaleshwar Temple.
Crucially, rather than discussing the alleged bribe verbally, Soni reportedly communicated the demand by typing it on his mobile phone during a conversation that lasted roughly four minutes. The alleged middleman also facilitated two WhatsApp calls between the complainant and Soni, digital recordings of which the ACB says it has secured.
Evidence and Document Tampering Probe
During the investigation, the ACB recovered files relating to 41 plots from Soni's office, linked to the Municipal Corporation. Several documents reportedly carried the seal and signature of the Urban Development Authority (UDA). Investigators are now examining whether these documents are genuine or fabricated.
The probe has also uncovered instances in which files containing altered plot numbers appeared alongside original files, bringing alleged file tampering and changes to plot numbers within the scope of the investigation.
What Happens Next
Departmental proceedings are expected to run concurrently with the ongoing criminal investigation and legal process. The case has drawn considerable attention given that it involves an ASP-rank officer from the SOG — a specialised investigative unit of the Rajasthan Police — being investigated by an anti-corruption agency. The ACB has indicated that further investigation into the matter is underway.
Point of View
Which makes the ACB's success in securing digital recordings all the more notable. The underlying Udaipur land-fraud case, with forged UDA documents and cancelled plots allegedly flipped for profit, points to a systemic corruption chain that the suspension of one officer will not dismantle. Whether departmental proceedings go beyond Soni — and whether the UDA document trail leads to other officials — will be the real test of institutional accountability here.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Rajasthan SOG ASP Mukesh Kumar Soni suspended?
Soni was suspended because he was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on 27 September in connection with an alleged ₹2 crore bribery case linked to the Udaipur 272-plot land fraud. The Home Department issued the formal suspension order, effective 27 September, after the Chief Minister's Office approved the ACB's report.
What was the alleged bribe for?
According to the ACB, Soni allegedly demanded ₹2 crore in exchange for filing a final closure report in the Udaipur land-fraud case and returning seized items — including approximately 2 kg of gold jewellery and ₹11 lakh in cash — to the accused. The demand was allegedly routed through two middlemen.
Who else was arrested in the case?
Alleged middleman Sajjan Singh Jain, alias Tatla, was arrested on 26 September while allegedly accepting the ₹2 crore bribe. Earlier, in the underlying land-fraud case, the SOG had also arrested former District Minority Officer Hemlata Kankariya and her husband Niranjan Mogra.
What is the Udaipur 272-plot land case?
It is a fraud case in which forged documents and lease deeds were allegedly created for vacant and cancelled plots in Udaipur to facilitate ownership changes, after which the plots were allegedly sold. An FIR was registered at Surajpol Police Station in 2022, and the Municipal Corporation subsequently cancelled 48 lease deeds in the matter.
What happens to Soni now?
Soni faces both criminal proceedings — the ACB's ongoing investigation — and formal departmental proceedings initiated by the Home Department. The two processes are expected to run concurrently. The ACB is also probing whether files recovered from his office, some bearing UDA seals and signatures, are genuine or fabricated.
