An additional collector and a clerk were today caught red-handed by the Lokayukta police while allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 15,000 from a stone trader.
Diwakar Agrawal, a stone trader and a BJP leader, had applied for a licence to store minerals at Bhounti in Picchore tehsil of Shivpuri district.
Additional collector Zaheeruddin Sheikh allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 30,000 through a clerk in his office, Gopal Rathore, for issuing the license.
Agrawal complained to the Lokayukta superintendent of police Amit Singh. The subsequent conversation between Rathore and Agrawal was recorded and a trap was laid, said the Lokayukta inspector R B Sharma.
Agrawal handed over Rs 15,000 to Sheikh at latter's office today and promised to pay the balance later. Sheikh kept Rs 10,000 in his drawer and gave Rs 5,000 to Rathore.
The Lokayukta officials who were waiting outside then moved in and seized the bribe money from them.
The two were arrested and released on bail on the spot.
A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and section 120B of IPC (criminal conspiracy) was filed against them. Further probe was on.
