Palamu: In a significant crackdown on corruption in land administration, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Shailesh Kumar, the Zonal Officer (Circle Officer) of Nawabazar, on Wednesday evening after he was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹30,000 for processing a land mutation request.
The operation, conducted around 5:30 PM, was confirmed by ACB Dy SP Sudarshan Astik, who said the officer has been remanded to judicial custody under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Complaint by Former Mukhiya Triggered Action
The arrest follows a formal complaint lodged by Ajay Gupta alias Deepak Gupta, the former Mukhiya of ITCO Panchayat, Nawabazar. Gupta alleged that despite completing 90 days since land registration, his and his associate’s mutation applications were arbitrarily rejected, and the Zonal Officer was demanding a bribe to process them.
Gupta had bought land in his wife’s name along with a friend, both of whom were facing procedural delays allegedly due to the officer’s demands.
ACB Lays Trap, Catches Officer Red-Handed
Acting on the complaint, the ACB laid a carefully planned trap operation. Shailesh Kumar was arrested while accepting ₹30,000 in marked currency notes for facilitating the land mutation of nine decimals of land.
Immediately following the arrest, ACB teams began a search operation at Kumar’s residence in Medininagar to uncover any further incriminating evidence or unaccounted assets.
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Next Steps: Medical Test, Judicial Process
After the search and seizure operation, Kumar will undergo a medical examination, following which the authorities will formally proceed with his judicial remand.
Dy SP Sudarshan Astik of ACB Palamu confirmed the operation and emphasized the bureau’s commitment to taking strict action against public officials indulging in corrupt practices.
