Revenue staffer tries to swallow bribe money on seeing police

A patwari identified as Gajendra Singh attempted to swallow the bribe money of Rs 4500 after seeing the Lokayukta police team in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni district. Further investigation is ongoing says Lokayukta Inspector Kamal Kant Uikey

Katni (Madhya Pradesh): In a gripping turn of events, a patwari (also known as a Revenue staffer or the village accountant) attempted to swallow the bribe money of Rs 4500 after seeing the Lokayukta police team in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni district, an official said. The incident occurred on Monday at Patwari’s office located in the Bilhari area of the district. The patwari, identified as Gajendra Singh had demanded a bribe of Rs 5000 from a complainant, Chandan Singh Lodhi, a resident of Barkheda in the district in connection with giving him a land document.

A patwari is someone who is responsible for maintaining land records and collecting revenue from the villages. Following this Lodhi lodged a complaint to the Lokayukta Police Jabalpur. Lokayukta Inspector Kamal Kant Uikey said, “Complaint Lodhi had applied for the demarcation of his grandfather Puranlal’s land and its demarcation was done on July 5, 2023. The concerned Patwari Gajendra Singh was demanding a bribe of Rs 5000 in lieu of giving the report of that demarcation. After which the deal was finalised for Rs 4500.”

"The accused patwari had called Lodhi with the amount to his office situated at Bilhari in the district on Monday. Lodhi handed over the bribe amount to the patwari and as soon as the patwari saw the trap team of Lokayukta arriving there, he kept the bribe currency notes in his mouth and tried to swallow them, Uikey said. After that, the team caught Patwari and took him for a medical examination. Further investigation into the matter is underway, Inspector Uikey added. (ANI)