Viral Video: The vigilance team in Moradabad arrested the steno of Thakurdwara tehsil SDM Mani Arora, Sachin Kumar Sharma, allegedly while accepting a bribe amount of Rs 50,000. Accused Sachin was caught red-handed at the SDM office and then whisked away to Thakurdwara police station for interrogation. A case has been registered against him under relevant sections of the law.
Farmer’s Complaint Sparks Investigation
It was based on a complaint from a farmer, who had accused Sharma of demanding a bribe for converting his agricultural land into non-agricultural land. The farmer had complained to the Superintendent of Police at the Vigilance Establishment, Bareilly. Subsequently, a vigilance team was formed based on this complaint and a trap laid. On Saturday, Sharma was arrested in his office while receiving the bribe-an incident that sent shockwaves throughout the district. This Viral video has been posted by ghar ka kalesh on Twitter.
Integrity of SDM’s Office Questioned
This has raised serious questions over the integrity of the office of the SDM as, being its steno, Sharma was considered one of the most trusted employees of the SDM, Mani Arora. The steno is, after all, in administrative offices, one dealing with very important documents, making Sharma’s actions all the more objectionable. All these activities under the watch of the SDM raise a question mark over the latter’s style of working.
Comments from SDM Mani Arora were not available as he did not respond to the calls. At first glance, the timing of this incident does not seem an accident as the chief minister is scheduled to come to Moradabad on 2nd September and will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate the development projects costing around one billion rupees. The arrest of the steno to the SDM has triggered considerable unrest on the eve of the Chief Minister’s visit.