Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh — In a major breakthrough, the Anti Corruption Team of Bareilly has caught a senior clerk, Ajit Kumar Pandey, red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹20,000 at the Chief Engineer’s office of the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL). The shocking bust has once again exposed the deeply entrenched corruption in the state’s power department.
The Ajit Kumar Pandey bribery case has triggered widespread outrage among citizens, especially those already frustrated by billing issues and irregularities in UPPCL services.
Clerk Demanded Bribe to ‘Correct’ Power Bill
According to officials, Ajit Kumar Pandey was extorting bribes under the pretext of “fixing” electricity bills. The complainant, whose identity is being kept confidential for security reasons, approached the Anti-Corruption team after Pandey allegedly demanded ₹20,000 to resolve discrepancies in their electricity bill.
Acting swiftly, the Anti-Corruption Bureau laid a trap and caught Ajit red handed while accepting the bribe at the Chief Engineer’s office. The entire operation was recorded, and the evidence has been handed over to the investigating authorities.
₹1.75 Lakh Cash Found in Bag
What makes the Ajit Kumar Pandey bribery case even more startling is the recovery of ₹1.75 lakh in cash from Pandey’s personal bag at the time of his arrest. When interrogated about the source of the money, Pandey failed to provide any satisfactory explanation. The recovered cash is suspected to be part of an ongoing chain of illicit bribes collected from multiple citizens.
Sources within the Anti-Corruption team have revealed that Ajith was under watch for a few weeks due to complaints of corrupt practices.
FIR Registered, More Charges Likely
An FIR has been registered against Ajit Kumar Pandey, and legal proceedings have been initiated under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The accused clerk hails from Gayatri Nagar, Indira Nagar in Lucknow.
Senior officials have indicated that further investigation will explore the possibility of a larger corruption network within UPPCL, especially in billing-related operations.
“The arrest of Ajit Kumar Pandey is just the tip of the iceberg. We suspect he may be part of a wider nexus of corruption involving other staff as well,” a senior Anti-Corruption officer stated.
Public Anger Mounts Over UPPCL Corruption
Ajit Kumar Pandey bribery case has once again brought the focus on the dismal state of public services in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in the power sector. Consumers have long complained of inflated bills, wrongful disconnections, and harassment by department staff.
Citizens took to social media to express their anger:
UPPCL Officials Tight Lipped
While the news of the clerk’s arrest has gone viral, UPPCL higher authorities have so far refrained from making any public statement. Attempts to contact the Chief Engineer’s office for a comment were unsuccessful.Experts believe the silence may indicate nervousness within the department as scrutiny intensifies post this exposure.
Will UPPCL Clean House?
Ajit Kumar Pandey bribery case serves as a grim reminder of the rot in government offices where bribes have become the norm for even the most basic services. As citizens demand accountability, all eyes are on the state government and UPPCL to take swift action and clean house.
If serious reforms are not implemented soon, the trust deficit between the public and institutions like UPPCL will continue to widen and so will the scope of corruption.
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