The lekhpal (land consolidation) at laksar in Haridwar district, Kesar Hasan was arrested by a vigilance team on Monday on charge of accepting a bribe of Rs5,000 from a complainant at the office of laksar Assistant land Consolidation officer. Hasan had sought the bribe from the complainant regarding measurement of a land located at Manglaur in Haridwar district.
In his written complaint lodged with the vigilance Dehradun sector on June 25, the complainant stated that he was having a portion of land in his grandfather’s name wherein land was to be divided between his father and uncle. For this, land was to be measured by the lekhpal.
In this case the complainant had approached the land consolidation Bandobast officer, Roorkee, who directed assistant consolidation officer to take measurement of the land on May 27. When the complainant approached the lekhpal, the official allegedly demanded Rs10,000 in bribe for doing the task.
The complainant averred that after repeated visits to Hasan for getting the work done, he had met Hasan again on June 24 requesting him to complete the work. The official then allegedly demanded Rs10,000 bribe, with the amount being settled after some bargaining at Rs5,000 with the assurance that the payment would be made before the work started. Hasan had called him to the Bandobast office, laksar with Rs5,000 in cash on Monday.
Earlier, the complainant had approached Barinderjeet Singh, SP, Dehradun sector vigilance and registered a complaint in the case. Acting on the complaint, the vigilance team members worked on a plan to trap the official who was caught red- handed while accepting Rs5,000 as bribe from the complainant at his rented accommodation at laksar on Monday in the presence of two independent witnesses.
A case under appropriate sections of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was registered against the accused in Dehradun sector vigilance. Ashok Kumar, director (vigilance), announced reward for the team members while adding that citizens can access toll free number–1800-180-6666 apart from which they can also register complaint on What’s App number- 9456592300 if any Government official demands bribe.