The grip on bribery inside government offices has tightened once again in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia. A Revenue Inspector named Ram Pratap Ram, posted at the Sadar Tehsil, was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 in return for carrying out a land measurement. The operation was executed by the Azamgarh anti-corruption team, which first laid a trap and then nabbed the accused on the spot.
How The Trap Was Set
The case began with a complaint by Ashok Kumar Singh, a resident of Sonwani in Ballia district. He alleged that the Revenue Inspector had demanded Rs 5,000 from him in exchange for surveying his land. As soon as the complaint was received, a 14-member team swung into action. On Wednesday the team raided Room No 22 of the tehsil complex, and the moment the accused took the money in hand, he was caught on the spot.
What The Complainant Said
According to Ashok Kumar Singh, Revenue Inspector Ram Pratap had sought a bribe of Rs 5,000 for the measurement. He said he had told the accused that it was fine and that he would bring the money after three or four days. After that he went straight to the anti-corruption team, and following the planned strategy the Revenue Inspector was nabbed today the instant he accepted the bribe amount. Legal proceedings are currently being carried out against the accused.
Lekhpal Union Raises Questions
On the other hand, the district president of the Lekhpal Sangh, Nirbhay Narayan Singh, made a different claim about the arrest. He insisted that Ram Pratap had been falsely framed. So while the complainant stands firm on his bribery allegation, the union is calling it a setup.
Panic Inside The Tehsil Complex
The team's action triggered a stir across the entire tehsil complex. Through the day, the arrest remained the talk among employees of the revenue department and other officers. Officials made it clear that this drive against corruption will continue and that no employee or officer who demands a bribe in exchange for government work will be spared.
Appeal To Ordinary Citizens
The anti-corruption department has appealed to the public to immediately report to the concerned agencies if any government employee demands a bribe for a task, so that strict action can be taken in such cases. The whole operation is being seen as a strong warning against corruption in Ballia. Local residents say that complaints of bribery in revenue-related work surface frequently, leaving ordinary citizens to face considerable trouble.
