Rajasthan ACB arrests tehsildar, aide and broker for ₹55,000 bribe in Viratnagar
Synopsis
A Rajasthan tehsildar and his junior assistant allegedly refused to release a routine registered land deed — one with no dues or disputes — unless paid ₹55,000. The ACB caught all three accused red-handed, with the cash changing hands through a broker before the trap closed. The case is a textbook illustration of last-mile corruption in revenue offices that citizens navigating property registration routinely face.
Key Takeaways
ACB Rajasthan arrested Sanjay Kumar (Tehsildar/Sub-Registrar), Devilal (Junior Assistant), and broker Ashok on 12 August 2026 in Viratnagar, Kotputli-Behror .
The trio was caught accepting a bribe of ₹55,000 to hand over a registered land deed — despite no legal impediment on the property.
The complainant had legally purchased 0.0742 hectares of land for ₹1,46,000 and paid ₹13,931 in registration and stamp duty.
The original demand was ₹60,000 ; it was negotiated down to ₹55,000 after the complainant approached the tehsildar directly.
A case will be registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act ; investigation continues under ADG Smita Srivastava and IGP S.
Rajasthan's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested three individuals — including a tehsildar-cum-sub-registrar and a junior assistant — on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, in a trap operation at Viratnagar in the Kotputli-Behror district, after they were caught red-handed accepting a bribe of ₹55,000 to hand over a registered land deed to a complainant. The operation was conducted on the instructions of the ACB Headquarters by ACB Outpost SU-I, Jaipur.
Who Was Arrested
Sanjay Kumar, Tehsildar and Sub-Registrar, Viratnagar; Devilal, Junior Assistant at the Sub-Registrar's Office, Viratnagar; and Ashok, a private individual acting as a broker, were taken into custody. The bribe amount was recovered during the operation itself.
Background: The Complaint
The complainant had purchased 0.0742 hectares of agricultural land in Amloda for ₹1,46,000 on 26 May 2026, with the deed registered at the Sub-Registrar's Office, Viratnagar. The complainant had also deposited ₹13,931 towards registration and stamp duty, completing all required formalities.
Despite no outstanding dues, disputes, stay orders, or legal impediments on the property, the tehsildar and junior assistant allegedly refused to release the registered deed without a bribe. According to the complaint filed with ACB Outpost SU-I on 11 August, the initial demand was ₹60,000.
How the Trap Was Laid
The bribe demand was verified on Tuesday, during which Junior Assistant Devilal allegedly insisted on the full ₹60,000 in a single payment, rejecting the complainant's offer of ₹10,000. The complainant then approached Tehsildar Sanjay Kumar to negotiate a lower amount. After consulting Devilal, Kumar allegedly fixed the bribe at ₹55,000.
A trap operation was subsequently mounted on Wednesday under the supervision of ACB Deputy Inspector General of Police Dr Rameshwar Singh, led by Additional Superintendent of Police Prashant Kaushik, with Deputy Superintendent of Police Archana Meena executing it on the ground.
How the Bribe Changed Hands
During the operation, Devilal allegedly accepted ₹55,000 from the complainant and pocketed the cash. He then called broker Ashok, who received the money and placed it in his own pocket. The entire amount was recovered by the ACB team shortly thereafter.
Investigation and Next Steps
ACB Director General Govind Gupta confirmed the arrests and the details of the operation. Interrogation of all three accused is underway under the supervision of ACB Additional Director General of Police Smita Srivastava and Inspector General of Police S. Parimala. The bureau is set to register a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and will conduct a full investigation into the matter. Authorities have indicated that the complainant's work was found to be pending with the accused at the time of the trap, establishing prima facie culpability.
Point of View
Legally valid document. The complainant had done everything right — paid stamp duty, completed formalities, registered the deed — and still faced a ₹60,000 shakedown. ACB trap operations are effective deterrents, but they are reactive. The structural fix — digitising deed delivery so no physical handover requires human discretion — remains unfinished across most of Rajasthan's sub-registrar offices. Until that gap closes, the next Sanjay Kumar and Devilal are already at their desks.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Viratnagar ACB bribe case?
Three individuals were arrested: Sanjay Kumar , Tehsildar and Sub-Registrar of Viratnagar; Devilal , a Junior Assistant at the same office; and Ashok , a private broker. All three were caught red-handed by the Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau on 12 August 2026.
What was the bribe demanded and why?
The accused allegedly demanded ₹55,000 — reduced from an initial ask of ₹60,000 — to hand over a registered land deed to the complainant. The property had no outstanding dues, disputes, or legal stay orders, making the demand entirely unwarranted according to ACB officials.
What is the Prevention of Corruption Act and what charges apply here?
The Prevention of Corruption Act is India's primary law targeting bribery and misconduct by public servants. The ACB will register a case under this Act against all three accused, which can carry imprisonment and disqualification from public service upon conviction.
Who led the ACB trap operation in Viratnagar?
The operation was conducted under the supervision of ACB Deputy Inspector General of Police Dr Rameshwar Singh , led by Additional Superintendent of Police Prashant Kaushik , with Deputy Superintendent of Police Archana Meena executing it on the ground.
What happens next in the investigation?
Interrogation of the three accused is ongoing under the supervision of ACB Additional Director General of Police Smita Srivastava and Inspector General of Police S. Parimala . A formal case under the Prevention of Corruption Act is being registered and a full investigation is underway.
