Mail News Service
Seraikela, April 28: In a major action against corruption, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday arrested Khetra Mohan Mahato, a clerk posted in the Special Division of the Rural Development Department at the District Collectorate, while accepting a bribe of ₹10,000.
The arrest created a stir in the Collectorate premises, causing chaos among officials and visitors. Following his arrest, the ACB team led by DSP Indradev Ram brought Mahato to their office in Jamshedpur for further investigation.
According to DSP Ram, the action was taken based on a complaint filed by Rahul Kumar Mahato, a resident of Chhota Gamharia. Rahul’s father, Late Ajit Kumar Mahato, was employed in the Special Division of the Rural Development Department and was due to retire on November 30, 2024. However, he passed away earlier, on November 15, 2024.
When Rahul approached the department to claim the group insurance amount due to his family, clerk Khetra Mohan Mahato allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹10,000 to process the payment. Rahul, refusing to pay a bribe, reported the matter to the ACB.
After verifying the complaint and confirming the bribe demand, the ACB registered a case under Section 7(A) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018, on April 27. Subsequently, a trap was laid, leading to Mahato’s arrest while accepting the bribe.
More than half a dozen officers, including a magistrate, were present during the operation, ensuring transparency and adherence to legal procedures.
