Assistant stamp commissioner and clerk arrested in shamli for taking bribe

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Vigilance Establishment on Tuesday arrested Assistant Stamp Commissioner Ravindra Mehta and Clerk Ashwani red-handed while accepting a ₹1 lakh bribe in Shamli. The trap was laid following a detailed complaint by a local buyer who purchased 26 bighas of land for ₹90 lakh in June 2024.

According to the complaint, the buyer already deposited ₹5,01,500 as stamp duty based on the circle rate. However, later notices issued on December 12, 2024, and February 13, 2025, claimed that the duty was short as per a higher valuation slab and alleged discrepancies found during the District Magistrate’s site inspection.


When the complainant met Assistant Commissioner Mehta on November 24, 2025, he was directed to Clerk Ashwani, who allegedly demanded ₹3.8 lakh as additional stamp duty and ₹1 lakh as a bribe, threatening that otherwise, stamp duty would be charged at the full market rate. After negotiations, the officers allegedly insisted that ₹1.6 lakh extra duty and ₹1 lakh bribe be paid directly to them.

Unwilling to pay, the complainant approached the Vigilance Establishment, which set up a trap and arrested both officials today while taking ₹1 lakh. A search of their office also yielded additional cash totalling ₹53,200 from Mehta’s laptop bag.

A case is being registered at Adarsh Mandi police station. The Vigilance Establishment has urged citizens to report bribery demands on the anti-corruption helpline 9454401866.


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