Sleuths of Anti-Corruption Organisation (ACO) claimed to have nabbed two government officials during separate raids in Barabanki and Muzaffarnagar respectively. Both officials were later sent to jail after registering cases with the local police stations.
Giving details, SP (ACO) Rajeev Malhotra said in lucknow on Friday that Pramod Kumar Verma of Haidergarh (Barabanki) contacted him last week and informed that Shivkant Singh, posted as Assistant Development Officer (ADO), Trivediganj Panchyat block of Haidergarh Tehsil in Barabanki was demanding money from him to sanction a budget for development and also to release his bank account which was frozen by the official (Shivkant) to harass him.
Malhotra said that they asked the complainant to strike a deal with the officer and inform them when the money exchange was sheudled to take place. He said that as per the trap, as soon as Pramod Kumar handed over Rs 25,000 to Shivkant Singh, the ACO team arrested the officer red handed and recovered the graft money. later a case was registered in this regard and Singh was sent to jail.
In Muzaffarnagar, Malhotra said that Mehraj of Ratanpuri (Muzaffarnagar) contacted him and informed that office assistant Anand Pal of Executive Engineer of Power Corporation in Khatauli (Muzaffarnagar) was demanding Rs 22000 to settle a matter of power theft. Mehraj claimed that the power department disconnected his line after charging him with power theft. later they demanded money to settle the issue.
Malhotra said that he directed the complainant to make a payment of the bribe and as the transaction took place, the ACO team caught Anand Pal red handed with the bribe. A case was registered and Pal was sent to jail.