A special court in Surguja district has convicted a Block Education Office clerk in a corruption case involving the acceptance of a ₹10,000 bribe from a retired school teacher. The verdict brings closure to a case that was initiated after a successful Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) trap in 2020.

Background of the Case

The case originates from the retirement of headmaster Barnavas Minj, who retired on 28 February 2017 from Middle School Ghoghra in the Batouli block. After retirement, he was entitled to receive nearly ₹7 lakh, which included gratuity, leave encashment, and arrears under the Seventh Pay Commission.

To process his dues, he approached the Block Education Office where clerk Pramod Gupta was responsible for handling documentation and bill processing.

Bribe Demand and Complaint

Initially, the clerk reportedly took ₹5,000 from the retired teacher for preparing necessary documents. Later, he allegedly demanded an additional ₹10,000, claiming it was required for submitting the bill to the treasury office and clearing arrears. Feeling harassed and helpless, the retired teacher approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

ACB Trap and Arrest

Acting on the complaint, the ACB team laid a trap on 30 December 2020 at the Block Education Office in Batouli. The clerk was caught red-handed while accepting ₹10,000 as bribe. He was immediately arrested and a case was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Court Proceedings and Verdict

The case was heard in the court of Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) Mamta Patel. After examining the evidence presented by the prosecution, the court found clerk Pramod Gupta guilty of corruption charges. The court sentenced him to three years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of ₹5,000. In case of non-payment of the fine, he will have to undergo an additional six months of imprisonment.

Impact of the Judgment

The verdict is being seen as a strong message against corruption in government offices. It highlights the legal consequences faced by public servants involved in bribery and reinforces the role of anti-corruption agencies in ensuring accountability.