An Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Probationary Officer currently posted as Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) at Bhanupratappur in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh was caught by the State Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths while accepting bribe through his peon in his office on Wednesday.
As per official information received from Police Headquarters (PHQ), a Patwari, Sudhir lakra posted in Bhanupratappur had made a complaint to ACB unit in Jagdalpur that SDM Ranveer Sharma, IAS, was allegedly demanding Rs 40,000 from him.
The SDM taking note of news published in a local news daily against lakra had allegedly threatened of taking action and transferring him to Sukma if the money was not paid, the official statement released from PHQ stated.
“lakra had then provided an audio recording done on August 1, 2015 to ACB in which SDM Sharma was found demanding money,” according to the press release.
The Patwari in the recording was heard telling SDM Sharma that his (lakra’s) mother was suffering from Cancer and he would not be able to provide money. However, Sharma paying no heed to the plea directed him to pay the money or be ready to face consequences, the press release stated.
The SDM had asked lakra to leave money with his Peon Ganesh Ram Sori. The Patwari had then given Rs 20,000 to Sori. The Peon after taking money, confirmed that the SDM had asked him to take the amount, which was recorded in the audio, according to the official statement.
On Wednesday, lakra met the SDM and informed him that he had brought Rs 10,000 over which Sharma said to hand it over to Sori. While Sori was accepting the money, the ACB officers caught him. The Peon had confessed of taking money on behalf of SDM Sharma, it stated.