Patwari Caught Taking Rs 47,000 Bribe in Panna

A patwari named Santosh Kumar Chikwa was trapped by the Special Police Establishment (SPE), Lokayukta Sagar, for taking a bribe of Rs 47,000 in Panna district, Madhya Pradesh, on Thursday.

The patwari had demanded Rs 80,000 from a resident, Ramgopal Adivasi, to prepare a certificate for his deceased grandmother's land, which was submerged in the Dodhan dam under the Ken-Betwa river link project.

Ramgopal's family was to receive a compensation of Rs 2.19 lakh for the submerged land, but they had only received Rs 63,989 so far. The patwari's certificate was required to obtain the remaining amount.

Initially, Ramgopal had agreed to pay the patwari Rs 80,000, but he could only arrange Rs 30,000, which he handed over to the patwari. However, the patwari insisted on receiving the full amount before preparing the certificate.

Ramgopal then approached the Lokayukta police and lodged a complaint against the patwari. A trap team, led by DSP Kamal Singh Uike, was constituted to catch the patwari in the act.

On Thursday, the trap team caught the patwari red-handed as he accepted Rs 47,000 from Ramgopal at the gate of the district hospital.

The Ken-Betwa river link project has been a significant development in the region, aiming to provide water to the drought-prone areas of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. However, the project has also led to the displacement of several families, whose lands have been submerged in the dam.

The incident highlights the issue of corruption in the lower rungs of the administration, where officials demand bribes for performing their duties.

The Lokayukta police have been actively working to curb such corruption, and the trapping of the patwari is a significant achievement in this regard.

The case is a reminder that citizens can approach the authorities to report corruption and seek justice.

The incident has also brought attention to the plight of the families affected by the Ken-Betwa river link project, who are struggling to receive fair compensation for their lost lands.