ACB traps power utility officials, civic accountant in Janjgir bribery cases

Raipur: Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has trapped four officials in two separate bribery cases in Chhattisgarh's Janjgir district, including three employees of the Chhattisgarh state power distribution company Ltd (CSPDCL) who were allegedly caught taking Rs 35,000 for installing a transformer and meter.Those arrested in the first case were identified as CSPDCL assistant engineer Vijay Norge, junior engineer Rajendra Shukla and assistant grade-1 Devendra Rathore.Bilaspur ACB DSP Ajitesh Singh said complainant Pradeep Yadav, a resident of Janjgir, had approached the agency alleging that he wanted to set up a fly ash bricks plant in Khokhsa village and had applied for transformer installation at the CSPDCL office in Janjgir. Though he had already deposited the demand note amount, the officials allegedly sought Rs 35,000 to install the transformer and meter.After verification found the complaint to be genuine, the ACB laid a trap on March 20. The complainant was sent to the CSPDCL office with the bribe money. According to officials, he handed over Rs 10,000 to junior engineer Rajendra Shukla, while Rs 25,000 was given to Devendra Rathore on the instructions of assistant engineer Vijay Norge.Once the pre-arranged signal was received, the ACB team, which was positioned nearby, moved in and caught all three accused red-handed. The agency said Rs 35,000 was recovered from them.In a separate trap in the same district, the ACB arrested Navagarh Nagar Panchayat accountant Prakash Jaiswal while allegedly accepting Rs 8,000 as bribe for release of a cheque linked to a contractor's pending bill.DSP Singh said complainant Abdul Wahab of Navagarh had told the ACB that his firm had executed infrastructure and repair works in the Nagar Panchayat area during the 2024-25 financial year. For releasing a cheque of around Rs 2.03 lakh against the bill, the accountant had allegedly demanded Rs 16,000.The complainant alleged that Jaiswal had already taken Rs 6,000 earlier and was pressing for the remaining amount. During verification, the amount was allegedly negotiated down from Rs 10,000 to Rs 8,000.The ACB then laid a trap on March 20. Officials said the accused accepted Rs 8,000 and kept it in his car, following which the ACB team nabbed him near Semra village. The bribe amount was recovered from his possession.The bureau has registered cases against the accused under Sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and initiated further legal action. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with EId ul fitr 2026 wishes, messages and quotes !