Bribery crackdown in Manendragarh and Janjgir-Champa: Engineer, Patwari, and Operator arrested in ACB’s twin operations

First case – Engineer caught in Manendragarh

The Surguja ACB team apprehended C.P. Mishra, a Sub-Engineer in the Public Works Department (PWD), while he was accepting a bribe of ₹21,000 in Manendragarh.

According to reports, a contractor named Ankit Mishra had lodged a complaint alleging that the engineer demanded money to clear a bill. After verifying the complaint, ACB officials set up a trap. On Thursday, as soon as the contractor handed over the chemically treated notes to the engineer, the ACB team swooped in and arrested him on the spot.

Following the arrest, the ACB searched the accused’s house and bank accounts, reportedly finding suspicious documents and cash. A case has been registered against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Second case – Patwari and Operator held in Janjgir-Champa

In another case, the ACB Bilaspur team arrested Babu Bihari Singh (Patwari) and Rajkumar Devangan (Operator), both posted in the land acquisition branch of the SDM office, Champa.

The duo allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹1.80 lakh from farmer Budhram Dhiwar in exchange for releasing land acquisition compensation.

The farmer had informed ACB that his and his sister’s land had been acquired for National Highway construction, for which they were to receive compensation of over ₹35 lakh. The accused officials demanded a cut from this amount to process the payment.

After the complaint was verified, the ACB conducted a trap operation and caught both officials red-handed while accepting the bribe.

The ACB has registered a case against them under Sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and initiated a detailed investigation.