In a significant move, the Uttar Pradesh government has suspended an IAS officer and three PCS officers following charges of corruption in a land measurement case. The officers are accused of taking a bribe in connection with a plot of land owned by a retired teacher in Lakhimpur Kheri.
The suspended officers include Ghanshyam Singh, Additional Commissioner of the Appointment Department in the Lucknow Division, and three PCS officers: Arun Kumar Singh, ADM (F/R) of Barabanki, Vidhesh Singh, City Magistrate of Jhansi, and Renu, Subdivisional Magistrate of Bulandshahr. All four officers were previously posted in Lakhimpur Kheri and have now been attached to the Revenue Board.
The action follows a viral video posted on October 24 by Yogesh Verma, the BJP MLA for Sadar, Lakhimpur Kheri. In the video, Verma alleged that the officers had accepted a ₹5,000 bribe from retired teacher Vishwaeshwar Dayal in exchange for measuring his land. The video quickly gained traction on social media, prompting an investigation by state authorities.
Taking swift cognizance of the video, the Uttar Pradesh government ordered a probe into the allegations. The District Magistrate (DM) of Lakhimpur Kheri was instructed to submit a detailed report on the matter, focusing particularly on the activities of the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Tehsildar, and Naib Tehsildar in the district since 2019.
Upon reviewing the findings, the government determined that the four officers were indeed guilty of engaging in corrupt practices. In light of the gravity of the charges, immediate suspension and disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against them.
The case has sparked outrage in the region, with calls for stricter action against corruption in the public administration. The suspended officers will remain attached to the Revenue Board pending further investigation into their conduct.
This incident comes at a time when the Uttar Pradesh government has been focusing on improving governance and cracking down on corruption within the bureaucracy. The state administration is likely to intensify scrutiny of government officials in the wake of this high-profile case.
