The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday arrested a Rural Engineering Services (RES) Deputy Engineer and his middleman after the latter was caught red-handed taking a bribe of Rs 20,000 in Bilaspur district.
ACB Superintendent of Police Pankaj Chandra told The Pioneer that Sumeet Rajput (37), posted at Akaltara Janpad Panchayat, demanded Rs 40,000 from a Rajesh Kumar Dhosle to give an evaluation report of development works done in Mudpar village.
If this money was not paid, Rajput threatened not to pass Dhosle's application.
Dhosle complained to the ACB while Rajput sent his middleman, Rajkumar Ratre (57), to take the first instalment of Rs 20,000. ACB sleuths caught him in the act and recovered the bribe money.
The man confessed that he took the bribe money at the behest of Rajput, who too was arrested later.