Rewa Tehsil Clerk Caught Taking Rs 9,500 Bribe

Tyonthar Tehsil office staffer arrested by Lokayukta team

In a swift anti-corruption operation, the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta police arrested a tehsil clerk on Thursday for allegedly demanding a bribe to resolve a land-related case and threatening the complainant with eviction proceedings. The accused, identified as Anil Kumar Tripathi, was caught red-handed while accepting Rs 9,500 as part of the demanded bribe.

The incident has triggered a stir at the Tyonthar tehsil office, with staff expressing shock over the timing of the raid inside the premises. Officials said the arrest was made following a verified complaint and a meticulously planned trap.

Complaint Filed Days Earlier

According to Lokayukta officials, the complainant, Ajay Mishra, a resident of Dadhakala village under Janey police station in Tyonthar tehsil, approached the Lokayukta office on May 4, 2026. Mishra alleged that Tripathi, who handles case files at the tehsil, was pressuring him to pay Rs 80,000 for a favourable decision in his pending matter. The clerk allegedly used the threat of eviction (bedkhali) action to build pressure.

Initial verification by the Lokayukta team confirmed the demand. A trap team was subsequently formed under the guidance of senior officers.

Trap Laid, Clerk Nabbed

On May 7, the team laid a trap at the tehsil office. Tripathi was allegedly caught accepting Rs 9,500 as the first instalment of the bribe. The entire operation was conducted under the leadership of DSP Praveen Singh Parihar, with Inspector S. Ram Maravi and a 12-member team, including independent government witnesses, present at the spot.

“After thorough verification of the complaint, a planned trap was executed. The accused was arrested while accepting the bribe money,” Parihar told reporters. A case has been registered against Tripathi under Section 7(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018). Further investigation is underway.

Fear of Eviction Used as Leverage

Mishra later narrated his ordeal, saying repeated demands for money had left him harassed. “They were not processing the case and kept threatening to initiate eviction proceedings if I did not pay,” he claimed. Distressed by the continuous pressure, he finally approached the Lokayukta.

The arrest has brought renewed attention to corruption at the tehsil level, where land records, mutations, and eviction-related matters often become sources of alleged bribery.

Lokayukta Appeals for Public Vigilance

The Lokayukta organisation has appealed to citizens to report any instances of bribery immediately. “If any officer or employee demands a bribe, complain without fear to the Lokayukta office or on the designated helpline,” a senior official said.

This latest action comes under the direct supervision of Lokayukta Director General Yogesh Deshmukh and IG Manoj Singh. Officials emphasised that such operations would continue to keep government offices corruption-free.

 Public Reaction and Local Impact

Local residents in Tyonthar expressed mixed reactions. While many welcomed the arrest, some voiced concern over delays in routine tehsil work following the incident. Tehsil officials maintained that work continued normally after the initial disruption, but the episode has clearly shaken the local administrative setup.

Land-related disputes and revenue department processes remain among the most common areas where citizens report facing demands for speed money. Cases involving mutations, possession certificates, and eviction notices frequently surface in such complaints.

Next Steps in Investigation

The arrested clerk has been taken into custody, and authorities are examining other files handled by him to check for similar patterns. The Lokayukta team is also recording statements of witnesses and examining relevant documents from the tehsil office.

This development is being seen as part of a broader drive against corruption in Madhya Pradesh’s revenue department. Similar actions have been reported in other districts in recent months, indicating sustained focus by the anti-graft body.

The case will now proceed in the special court for Prevention of Corruption Act matters. Tripathi is likely to be produced before the court soon for remand.