Two forest rangers were caught red-handed by the Special Police Establishment (SPE) of the lokayukta Bhopal while accepting a bribe of Rs60,000 at Ichhawar in Sehore district on Monday. The accused had demanded bribe for facilitating relief to the victim in irregularities found at his shop.
Forest range officers Prem Singh Chouhan and Pappu Singh were nabbed while accepting bribe from the victim Mukesh Vishwakarma. Pappu Singh was caught red-handed, while accepting bribe on the directions of Prem Singh.
Superintendent of Police loyukata BN Singh said that Vishwakarma lodged a complaint against Prem Singh Chouhan who earlier visited the victim’s furniture shop in Ichhawar and after inspecting the shop found some irregularities in the shop and demanded clarification for the same. For facilitating relief in the issue the victim was asked to shed Rs1.7 lakh but the deal was done for Rs60,000. Victim who was harassed for bribe several times lodged a complaint reporting both the negotiation and bribe, he added.
After the complaint was received lokayukata officials asked the victim to provide the money on Monday at the office of the accused. The main accused Prem Singh Chouhan who was scheduled to collect the money went for some work and asked his colleague Pappu Singh to collect the money and while Singh collected money he was nabbed by lokayukta team.
A case was registered against Singh and Chouhan under section 7 and 13(1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Further investigation into the matter has been started.