A district registrar was caught by Lokayukta Police sleuths while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 14,000 from a farmer here today.
Sudhir Kumar Mishra (53) was trapped on the basis of a complaint filed by the farmer, Tulsiram Khati, who said the officer had demanded the bribe to settle a land case, said B S Parihar, Lokayukta DSP.
Khati had purchased a piece of agriculture land in Shakkarkhedi village near here in 2003. The district registrar office issued him a notice recently alleging he had got it registered without paying to the Government Rs 53,000 in stamp duty and registration fee, Parihar said.
The farmer approached Mishra, who demanded bribe to bring down the due amount to Rs 13,000 from Rs 53,000. Khati agreed to grease his palms and at the same time lodged a complaint with Lokayukta Police.
The anti-graft agency laid a trap and caught Mishra when he was taking Rs 14,000 as bribe from the farmer in the district collector office premises, Parihar said.
A case under Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the officer.
