61-Year-Old NVDA Sub-Engineer Caught Taking Rs 14,000 Bribe in Khandwa:

Indore Lokayukta Police on Wednesday caught a 61-year-old sub-engineer of the Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA) while allegedly accepting a Rs 14,000 bribe from a contractor in Khandwa district.

The accused, identified as Ashok Gautam, is posted at Narmada Vikas Division No. 28 in Punasa. Police said Gautam had allegedly demanded Rs 55,000 from contractor Lakhan Rathore to clear his pending payment and return his security deposit.

According to the complaint, Rathore was awarded a contract in 2024 to construct a watchman's room and a generator room at the NVDA premises in Punasa. He completed the work in about a year and submitted his bills. While around Rs 13 lakh was paid to him, some payment and his security deposit were still pending.

Rathore approached the Lokayukta Police in Indore on September 10 and complained that Gautam was demanding Rs 55,000 to process the pending payment and refund the security deposit.

The Lokayukta Police verified the complaint and said the accused repeated the alleged demand during the verification. A trap was then laid on Wednesday at the technical room of the executive engineer's office at Narmada Vikas Division No. 28.

Gautam was allegedly caught accepting Rs 14,000 from the contractor. The Lokayukta Police registered a case against him under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. Further investigation and legal proceedings are underway.