A Vigilance team arrested a lekhpal of Tehsil (Civil) named Baldev Singh Rana on Friday evening while he was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a woman named Pravesh Chauhan in return of his assured initiative to clear the decks for the woman being provided compensation against her land at Mohkampur Khurd which the government acquired for National Highway.
The accused was sent to Suddhowala jail after being presented in the court on Saturday, said SP (Vigilance) VKS Karki. A report has been sent to Dehradun district magistrate regarding lekhpal’s arrest and action is expected soon, he added.
Gajram Singh, resident of Miyawala Chowk, registered a report in the vigilance, stating that he was having 404 square metres of land in his wife’s name at Mohkampur Khurd which the government has acquired for widening National Highway-72. The government had initially paid Rs 7, 000 per square metre as compensation for the acquired land.
later, the government had increased the compensation amount by Rs 2, 000 per square metre. DM had earlier assigned the Tehsil to distribute the additional Rs 2, 000 per square metre among the beneficiaries. Gajram Singh and his wife Pravesh visited Tehsil (civil) several times and finally, they met lekhpal Baldev Singh Rana.
As per the complaint, lekhpal Rana had told them that compensation amount would be released after he would verify the acquired land. Rana said that he would conduct physical verification of the acquired land after he was paid Rs 10, 000 as bribe. Singh had fixed the deal, though he, at the same time, informed the vigilance about the same.
Vigilance inspector Jaimal Singh Negi and Bhaskar lal Shah verified the complaint, which was found correct. lekhpal Rana had called Singh and his wife Pravesh at Ajabpur temple on Friday evening. Finally, lekhpal Rana was caught red-handed while receiving bribe of Rs 10, 000 from Pravesh by the vigilance team. A case under appropriate sections of IPC was registered against the accused and the accused Rana was sent to jail on Saturday. DGP (vigilance) SK Bhagat announced reward of Rs 5, 000 to the teams for cracking the case.