Mandi staffer arrested for accepting Rs 30K bribe

Lucknow: A mandi assistant was caught taking a bribe of Rs 30,000 for renewal and amendment in the name of a firm operating in New Galla Mandi complex in Hardoi.Accused Arunendra Verma was suspended, and a departmental inquiry was initiated. An anti-corruption unit from Lucknow took action on a complaint lodged by Amit Kumar Gupta, who operates a firm and was seeking an amendment in its name. Arunendra was attached with the secretary's office in New Galla Mandi.According to an FIR lodged with the Dehat Kotwali police station, Amit, a resident of Bharigwan in the Dehat Kotwali area, operates a firm named ‘Maa Vaishno & Sons Unified' in the New Galla Mandi complex. As the word ‘Sons' was spelled wrongly in the firm's name Amit requested applied for the correction and also its renewal. Arunendra allegedly demanded Rs 30,000 in bribe for processing the name amendment and renewal. Mandi secretary Jyoti Chaudhary confirmed that Arunendra has been suspended and that a departmental inquiry is underway. "A probe is being conducted," said SHO, Dehat, VK Pankaj.