LUCKNOW: In one of the largest anti-corruption drives conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Vigilance Establishment in recent months, five individuals, including four government officials, were arrested on Thursday after being allegedly caught red-handed accepting bribes totaling Rs 1.34 lakh in three separate trap operations in Hapur, Kannauj, and Baghpat districts.
Those arrested include a stenographer from the State Tax Department in Hapur, a sub-registrar in Kannauj, a district supply officer, a regional food officer in Baghpat, and a private intermediary. The arrests followed complaints from citizens alleging that the officials demanded illegal gratification for performing official duties, clearing payments, processing land registrations, and settling tax-related matters.
According to Vigilance Establishment officials, all three trap operations were carried out on May 29 after preliminary verification confirmed the complaints were genuine. Cases are being registered against the accused under relevant anti-corruption laws.
GST Department Stenographer Held in Hapur
In the first operation, the Vigilance Establishment's Meerut Sector team arrested Jaideep, a stenographer in the office of the assistant commissioner, state tax division-4, Hapur, while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 24,000. The complainant, who runs a business named Savitri Beej Bhandar on Modinagar Road, alleged that Jaideep called him on May 8 and asked him to visit the tax office. During the meeting, the stenographer allegedly displayed a tax liability of Rs 48,000 on his computer screen and offered to waive the entire demand if the businessman paid half the amount. The trader informed vigilance officials that he had not received any notice regarding the alleged tax demand and had no prior knowledge of such dues. He stated that if a legitimate tax liability existed, he was willing to pay it legally but refused to pay a bribe. Based on the complaint, officials laid a trap and arrested Jaideep while he was allegedly accepting the bribe.
Kannauj Sub-Registrar and Middleman Nabbed
In a second operation, the Kanpur sector of the Vigilance Establishment arrested Ashwin Kumar Verma, sub-registrar at Sadar Tehsil, Kannauj, and Jitendra Kumar Kushwaha, a private individual, while allegedly accepting Rs 60,000 as a bribe. Officials said the complainant approached the Vigilance Establishment on May 22, alleging that Rs 60,000 was demanded for executing the registry of agricultural land in village Kandroli Bangar, Kannauj district. The complainant stated that despite the land registration being a legitimate transaction, he was forced to pay illegal gratification. Unwilling to comply, he sought action from the anti-corruption agency. After verification, a trap team was formed under the supervision of the superintendent of police, vigilance establishment, Kanpur. On Thursday, the team allegedly caught Verma red-handed while accepting the bribe at the sub-registrar's office. Kushwaha, who was allegedly acting as an intermediary, was also arrested.
Baghpat Supply Officials Caught in Commission Bribery Case
The third operation resulted in the arrest of Anup Tiwari, district supply officer (DSO), Baghpat, and Jogendra Singh, regional food officer (RFO), Baghpat, for allegedly demanding and accepting a total bribe of Rs 50,000 from a ration dealer. The complainant operates a fair-price shop under the Public Distribution System (PDS) and distributes subsidized wheat and rice to beneficiaries. He alleged that Tiwari routinely demanded Rs 25 per quintal from ration dealers on allocated government food grain, while Singh allegedly collected Rs 500 per month from dealers. The ration dealer further alleged that his commission for the previous five months had not been released. When he approached the officials regarding the pending payment, Tiwari allegedly demanded Rs 40,000 and Singh Rs 10,000 to clear the dues. According to the complaint, the officials allegedly threatened to initiate inspections and cancel his license if he failed to pay. Acting on the complaint, the Vigilance Establishment laid a trap. Officials said Tiwari was caught red-handed while allegedly accepting Rs 40,000. However, Singh allegedly fled after receiving Rs 10,000 and attempted to escape in his vehicle. Members of the trap team chased him and eventually apprehended him near Shiva Dhaba at Nizampur on the Delhi-Lucknow Highway in Hapur district.
Vigilance Reiterates Anti-Corruption Commitment
Officials said legal proceedings are being initiated against all accused under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and other applicable laws. The Uttar Pradesh Vigilance Establishment stated that it continues to conduct regular anti-corruption operations across the state and appealed to citizens to report any demands for bribes by public servants. Complaints can be lodged on the anti-corruption helpline number 9454401866. The arrest of five accused and the recovery of bribe amounts totaling Rs 1.34 lakh in a single day underscores the agency's ongoing campaign against corruption in government offices across Uttar Pradesh.
