Raid at IPS officer IG Mayank Jain's residence yields Rs 100 crore assets: Corrupt Cop!

News in Patrika newspaper's Bhopal edition

In a rare action, the Lokayukta police conducted raid at the house of IG Mayank Jain at Riviera Township in Bhopal.

The Lokayukta officials found that Jain had amassed six houses in Bhopal and Indore apart from 50 acres land in Khargone, nursing homes in Bhopal and Rewa.

Jain also had large amount of jewellery, cash and other assets that were disproportionate to his known sources of income.

There were complaints of corrupt practices against Jain earlier too. The Lokayukta team conducted raid at the IPS officer's house on May 15. Jain belongs to Rewa. He has MBBS and MS degrees. Jain's wife is also a doctor.

Congress leader in Bhopal Sanjeev Saxena surrenders: STF arrests, interrogates him in PEB scam

Congress leader Sanjeev Saxena who owns Radharaman Group of Engineering Colleges has finally been arrested.

The special task force (STF) has arrested him for his alleged role in the professional examination board (PEB) scam, after he surrendered.

Had Saxena not surrendered, the process to attach his property would have begun. Saxena even went up to the Supreme Court, to get relief.

The Apex court told him to appear before CJM court by May 12. After he appeared in the court in Bhopal, he was remanded to STF custody.

Sanjeev Saxena is now being quizzed for his role in fraud. Saxena has always been known for controversies, his bullying in MANIT (formerly MACT) and for shady deals. But for years, he managed to get away despite being wanted by police, due to his political connections. But he is now made to face the law.

It will not be easy for him to come out of this case. His role in many fraud cases (for helping candidates pass in the competition and recruitment examinations through bribes) has been found. He will be interrogated and arrested in these cases also.

CBI arrests Income Tax officer Poonam Rai, her husband Ganesh Malviya for taking Rs 10 lakh bribe

The central bureau of investigation (CBI) has arrested deputy commissioner income tax (IT) Poonam Rai for taking a bribe of Rs 10 lakh.

Rai and her husband were caught for taking the money from a builder. She was asking for the money to settle the case of tax penalty.

The builder had informed the CBI police team. The trap was laid and they were arrested. Apart from Rai, her husband and two other persons were also caught.

Ganesh Malviya is a BJP leader. The two other persons are  Pretam Chotrani and Sanjay Raut. The four accused were produced in court.

They were remanded to CBI custody. Later on when they were again produced in the court, they were granted bail after furnishing Rs 1 lakh personal bond each.

The raid shows the extent of corruption in the departments like Income Tax. It was the proprietor of Ramayan Builders, Rajesh Bhadoria, who had complained to the CBI about the demand of bribe. Acting on his complaint the major trap took place. The CBDT has suspended Poonam Rai.

Lokayukta raid at Deputy Commissioner's residence reveals Rs 70 crore property

The Lokayukta raid at deputy commissioner RK Dwivedi's residence, yielded assets to the tune of Rs 70 crore.

The raid was conducted on January 30. In the raid at Gulmohar Colony, the SPE found information about huge assets.

These include two duplex houses in Akriti Ecocity, flat in Akriti Blue Bird, flat in Shahpura, plot in Bavadia Kalan, plots in Mahavir Nagar and Shivkunj, land in Gol gaon, 7 hectare land in Ganj Basoda, hotel Good Stay in MP Nagar, Bajaj Service Centre in MLA Quarters, four storey hostel, factory in Mandideep, jewellery and cash.

Patrika's aggressive campaign against corruption strikes chord in Bhopal

When readers saw their paper in the morning, they felt it was burnt. But that was not the case.

The front page was designed in such a way that it gave such an impression. The colours were used intelligently and it succeeded in creating this impact.

The newspaper's aggressive campaign in Bhopal in the form of hoardings that read as, 'Burn Patrika', had already caught the imagination of citizens.

The paper gave the message that it stood for truth and was exposing mafia, the corrupt politicians and the bureaucrats, who were all hand in glove, and wanted the newspaper out of the town and wished to burn the paper.

The front page showed old reports published in the paper like the news about a Chirayu groups hospital which was given permission to construct its building in the Upper Lake despite objections and in violation of norms. The other report was about an IPS officer Sanjay Chaudhary who was Director Sports for a long period.

Dainik Bhaskar, the leading Hindi newspaper, is known to have become 'subdued'. The impression that Bhaskar doesn't expose corruption because it has stakes in numerous businesses, and has become protective of the regime, has been strengthened by rival Patrika's vigorous campaign.

The reports that targeted BJP ministers have also given the Rajasthan-based paper, which had started MP edition, a few years back, another fillip. After Raj Express that faced administration's action, Patrika's proactive journalism may enthuse other papers.

One hopes that journalists in Bhopal stop getting 'managed' and publish stories that hit the 'system' rather than reducing themselves to official mouthpieces and turning journalism into a PR exercise.

As Patrika is known to be sympathetic to RSS and BJP, this anti-corruption campaign and exposures are more praiseworthy. Right now, the newspaper's advertising campaign seems to have clicked.

Income Tax raid at Sagar Group: BMC Commissioner, former DGP to be quizzed!

A report published in Daink Bhaskar

The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Manish Singh and a former Director General of Police could be quizzed by Income Tax officials after the recent raids at the Sagar group in Bhopal.

During the raid, IT team had found documents that showed investments by Manish Singh and his wife Anuranjana Singh into the group.

After they found evidences, the officials could be summoned. The AlCTE has also been initimiated and asked to de-recognize the colleges run by the group.

The group that is largely into real estate and education had claimed relaxations from tax but it was found that it had violated several provisions. The raids were conducted at 10 premises of the group in Bhopal. Apart from Manish Singh, former state police chief AN Singh may also be questioned.

The Congress has demanded action against BMC officer. Former Mayor Sunil Sood has said that he had earlier also raised the issue of misappropriation and misconduct on part of the BMC commissioner. But minister Babulal Gour seems to have given a clean-chit to the officer.

Corrupt PWD engineer's bank lockers throw up millions in Madhya Pradesh

It seems corruption has become such a norm in Madhya Pradesh that any bureaucrat at whose residence a raid is conducted, it could be a surety that the investigators will get millions in terms of black money.

PWD Executive Engineer Ashok Kumar Jain's residence and bank lockers in Bhopal and Sagar have also thrown up huge quantity of gold and cash. Till now 11 kg gold and Rs 1.7 crore cash has been recovered from the two lockers that were opened by Lokayukta police officers. The property and assets amassed by the corrupt engineer are estimated to be worth Rs 10 crore or 100 million rupees.

The suspended engineer  has now been charged with amassing property and wealth illegally. But such is the extent of corruption in Madhya Pradesh that a few raids in a month hardly affect the Great Game in which sarkari babus are involved.

Women IAS officers face corruption charges in Madhya Pradesh

Tinoo Joshi, Anju Baghel and Salina Singh

Not ready to lag behind their male counterparts, the women IAS officers in Madhya Pradesh are also feeling the heat of corruption charges.

Tinu Joshi's name remained in headlines along with her husband Arvind Joshi for Income Tax raid and later Lokayukta action against the couple for amassing wealth disproportionate to their assets.

The role of former Katni collector Anju Singh Baghel was found in a case of land transfer and she was suspended. The departmental inquiry was initiated but she approached the Central Administrative Tribunal against the decision.

Minister Vijay Shah recommended registration of EOW case against former Commissioner, SC Welfare, Salina Singh, for allegedly misusing fund of Rs 4.5 crore but the recommendation remains stuck in the corridors of GAD.

Local daily Raj Express reports that the case 395/99 against former Principal Secretary Anita Das is still pending with the EOW. The case number 107/09 against Salina Singh is also pending at the Lokayukta office.

Corruption case against Panna, Vidisha district collectors

Bureaucrats in Madhya Pradesh are certainly minting money by siphoning off funds.

In a fresh development, Lokayukta has registered corruption case against Panna collector KC Jain and former Indore Municipal Corporation commissioner CB Singh who is now Vidisha Collector and five other municipal officers.

The case is regarding a property-related fraud. All the persons named in FIR had acquired plots in Vasant Vihar Colony in Indore without the due permission. The complainant Rajendra Gupta has alleged that Jain got four plots in the name of his relatives and though they were not permitted for joint construction, construction of one huge building structure began on the plots clubbed together.

There is complaint that Jain has purchased ten dumpers in the name of his brother. The other officers include building permission officer, building inspector and former IDA CEO have been booked, according to Hindi daily Raj Express.

Lokayukta case against former Jhabua collector for NREGA corruption

Bureaucrats in Madhya Pradesh appear involved in massive corruption. The latest officer charged of corruption is Jagdish Sharma, an IAS officer, who is posted as Deputy Secretary with the Vallabh Bhawan. 

Sharma is accused of causing a loss of Rs 28 lakh to the state government through fraud and conspiracy. Chief Executive Officer Jagmohan Dhurve and others are also accused in the case filed by Lokayukta police. The accused persons had got documents relating to National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) scheme printed from a private press rather than government press.

Sharma was then Collector of Jhabua. On the complaint of Rajesh Solanki, a resident of Jhabua, the police conducted inquiry and found that there were irregularities in printing of posters, registers, pamphlets, NREGS booklets and other documents. 

Dumper Case: State government, Chief Minister again feel heat

Lokayukta is probing dumper case

Four years after the 'dumper case' had rocked Madhya Pradesh, Congress has again stepped up pressure on the ruling BJP government over the major scandal in order to corner Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

With Congress leaders deciding to go to Delhi and meet President Pratibha Patil on the issue, the dumper scam is again hitting headlines. It was alleged that Chief Minister's wife Sadhna Singh had bought four dumper trucks in May 2006.

A case was filed in the court to seek details of purchase of dumpers. It was alleged that the dumpers were attached to JP Group's cement plant in Rewa. It was raised as a case of corruption and allegations were made against Chouhan.

Former Leader of opposition late Jamuna Devi had shot a letter to CM and asked him to explain the situation. It was later found that Sadhna Singh had taken a loan of Rs 77 lakh from bank to buy four dumpers for personal travels business.

It was clarified that it is not wrong to earn living through business. She had earned Rs 16 lakh through the dumpers. Congress leaders had alleged that her company got Rs 75,000 monthly rent from JP Cement which was raised by Rs 10,000 later.

The opposition had alleged that how the dumpers were purchased, who financed them, whose photographs were affixed on the bank documents and why the dumpers were sold all of a sudden. They demanded that if everything was in order, why the record was not put in the Assembly.

Though it was accepted by CM that a loan of Rs 77 lakh was taken to buy dumpers in 2007, no details were released in his personal assets revealed in 2009-2010. Neither purchase and sale of dumpers, nor the earnings from this business to his wife, were mentioned. The Congress had alleged that the aim was to provide benefit to the JP group.

Jamuna Devi had questioned how the margin money was paid and despite not having an account in Oriental bank, how the instalments were paid and whether the Income Tax department was informed. The court had asked the Lokayukta police to conduct inquiry and submit report.

Once again the Congress is now forcefully raising the issue. Opposition didn't let the house function and the Assembly was adjourned. Congress is insisting on the demand for a CBI inquiry into the entire episode. Seems the opposition is trying to put the government in dock and also energize itself with the four year old case.

MP minister Paras Jain faces corruption charge

State minister Paras Jain once again finds himself in the midst of the bribery row. Food Inspector Akram Khan was asked for a bribe of Rs 1.55 lakh for transferring him. Khan had committed suicide due to the pressure on him.

The minister's PA Rajendra Bhootda had allegedly demanded the money. Khan was transferred from Indore to Bhind. Though he paid, Khan was instead transferred from Bhind to Dewas. He was not given posting of Indore.

After transfer, Akram did not get his pay for nine months. There was further pressure on Khan to pay more bribe. After his suicide, his wife Zarina fought for justice. She knocked at every door and even reached state capital, Bhopal.

The issue has now rocked the Assembly. Food minister Paras Jain has suspended Bhootda and the officer who had stopped Khan's salary has also been removed. The issue again shows that corruption plagues the state and this affects the image of the BJP government. Will Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan do a cleanup?

EOW raids Chief Engineer's residence in Indore

The raid at Indore Development Authority (IDA) superintending engineer Vimal Kumar Gangwal has revealed that he had assets valued at more than Rs 10 crore or Rs 100 million.

His palatial homes in Vasant Vihar and Snehlataganj were raided. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) team found three lockers other than cash, jewellery, insurance policies, shares and other assets. His daughter study in medical colleges while the son is manager with a private bank in Gujarat.

Gangwal had joined IDA as an assistant engineer and later became Chief Engineer. He was now Superintending Engineer and was about to retire soon. Recently Lokayukta raid had yielded Rs 1 crore assets at BL Gothwal's residence. He was also IDA engineer.

Corruption in Madhya Pradesh: Bureaucrats or Dacoits!

Crores are lying at home and property worth hundreds of crores have been amassed by some of the bureaucrats in Madhya Pradesh, as evident by the recent Income Tax raids.

Aren't these bureaucrats worse than dacoits! The dacoits rob a select few and mostly the rich exploiting class of traders and money-lenders. But the corrupt bureaucrats who are supposedly educated siphon off funds meant for everybody--all of us including the poorest citizens--money meant for nation building.

Is the pension insufficient to live a decent life? When educated class resort to such large-scale corruption, it's time to ponder for the society that what's wrong with our collective DNA. Why we are so corrupt?

Journalists should also answer why they never catch corruption and wait until only when an investigative agency like Lokayukta and EOW or the Income Tax register a case or conduct raids.

MP IAS officers' residences raided: Arvind Joshi, MA Khan in IT net

The level of corruption in Madhya Pradesh is staggering and it was proved once again when Income Tax department raided the houses of senior IAS officers in Bhopal.

Arvind Joshi, his wife Tinoo Joshi, retired IAS officer MA Khan and Road Development Corporation officer Deepak Asai are just a few names. Raids started on Thursday morning and the officers' houses were sealed.

Machines were installed to count the currency notes and still it took hours as the moolah was to the tune of crores at home alone. Foreign currency worth Rs 25 lakh was also found at the residence at 74 bungalow.

Even after investments and naming property after relatives, crores were found at home. One can imagine who is the real culprit in this country. There are reports of hawala transaction also other than bureaucrat-businessman nexus.

The raids can answer a lot of questions that haunt the common man. Now we all know where does the money goes and who keeps this country poor. Former DGP HM Joshi's house in Arera Colony was raided also. He is Arvind Joshi's father.

Their accounts and lockers are being examined. The action must be hailed as the state is seriously afflicted with the cancer of corruption. Bureaucracy remained unchecked but the IT has swung into action recently.

The rais will certainly put fear into the minds of officers who think that getting bribes is their birthright. In Lokayukta raids, senior officers were not touched. It is hoped that the IT department would continue its operation and also catch other IAS, IPS & IFS officers involved in corruption.

Corruption case against former Health director, commissioner

The Lokayukta police have registered case against former Health Director Dr Yogiraj Sharma and six other officers for the Rs 12 crore fraud in purchase of medicines.

Other than Sharma, former Commissioner Rajesh Rajora is also an accused in the case. The drug kits were purchased through supplier Ashok Nanda in 2005-2006. It was found that some officers had forced the government to pay Rs 11.99 crore more than the required amount that ought to have been paid.

The Laghu Udyog Nigam (LUN) officers' role had also come under suspicion and were allegedly in collusion with health department officers. A complaint had alleged that the drug kit was purchased under the National Rural Health Mission scheme but fraudulently advance payment was made to Malwa Drug House, a firm, in violation of rules. Rajora is these days posted in Revenue Board at Gwalior.

Lokayukta raid at Deputy Director's houses unearths crores

The Lokayukta police conducted raids at the houses of Urban Administration Department's Deputy Director Ashok Sharma and recovered property disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The raids at Ujjain, Indore and Bhopal unearthed assets worth over Rs 2 crore. Sharma is posted in Ujjain and has house in Indore also. His family lives in Indore. In Bhopal he owns house in Gulmohar Colony in Shahpura.

His houses in Mahananda Nagar in Ujjain and Indore's Vijay Nagar were searched. Jewellery, investiments, insurance policies and cars were found in the raids in three cities. Two of Sharma's children study in America and Singapore.

he raids of Lokayukta, Income Tax, CBI and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in state prove that a large number of government officials and employees have induldged in large-scale corruption, as it has become a norm to seize crores in almost every raid.

Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta in high-mode

Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta is in a high-mode. Buoyed by the Supreme Court decision in Prakash Singh Badal case, the Lokayukta police presented charge sheet agaisnt BJP State minister Jugal Kishor Bagri and MP Ganesh Singh for irregularities in the appointment of Shikshakarmis.

Now it plans to charge-sheet the bureaucrats as well. Sources say that IAS Vinod Semwal is next in the line. More chargesheets would follow soon. Earlier, the state government did not permit the Lokayukta to present charge sheet. However, with the Supreme Court verdict, the situation has changed.

Besides, cases against high-profile officials are also being registered. The latest being a case against Chhattisgarh IG Mukesh Gupta. Gupta, the then IG Ujjain, had made phone calls costing Rs 1.25 lakh, in a week. He had later paid the bills but the then DGP SC Tripathi had deemed it fit as case of 'income disproportionate to known sources of earnings'. Now the Lokayukta has booked Gupta, who is IG (Home Guards) at Chhattisgarh.

The website of Lokayukta is www.mplokayukt.nic.in