Special Police Establishment (SPE) of lokayukta here on Friday caught personal staffer of New and Renewable Energy Minister Rajendra Shukla red-handed while accepting bribe of Rs 2,000.
The accused Mayank Shroti was arrested from near Shivraji Nagar on Friday evening.Superintendent of Police (lokayukta) Siddhartha Choudhary said that a complaint was lodged with the lokayukta police regarding the demands raised now and then by Shroti in return of signing the logbook meant to enter the services provided by taxi provided for Energy Minister Shukla's use.
Complainant Vijay Yadav who is a taxi driver, had lodged a complaint with the lokayukta regarding the demands of Shroti. After receiving the complaint, a team was formed to trap the accused and Yadav was asked to provide Shroti a sum of Rs 2,000 to facilitate the clearance of bill after signing the logbook.
Around 7 pm when the accused Shroti reached the 5 number bus stop market and received the cash he was caught red-handed accepting bribe from the complainant. The victim had a pending bill of Rs 10,000 and for the clearance Shroti was demanding Rs 4,000.It was decided that Rs 4,000 would be paid in two parts and the accused came to collect the money.The lokayukta officials have claimed that it is possible that the other taxi drivers or any other service providers associated with the Minister might provide more details regarding the corrupt behaviour of Shroti.
Meanwhile, in Chhindwara, a food and drug inspector was caught red-handed by the lokayukta police while accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000.Sarita Dubey had demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 from businessman Ramesh Sahu for resolving a matter related to sample examination. later, the deal was settled at Rs 10,000.
She had already received Rs 5,000 as bribe earlier. She was trapped while accepting the bribe's second installment at her residence by Jabalpur Deputy Superintendent of Police (lokayukta) Satish Mishra.A case was registered against the accused in the Prevention of Corruption Act.