Bribery Bust: School Toilet Repair Funds Scandal

A government staffer in Madhya Pradesh's Barwani district has been apprehended for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 to release funds intended for school toilet repairs. The Lokayukta police caught the official red-handed following a complaint by a school headmaster.

The incident came to light after Jitendra Soni, the in-charge headmaster, reported the demand for a bribe. The case involved Block Resource Coordinator Mahendra Singh Rathore, who was seen taking the illicit payment at an ATM in Rajpur town.

The funds, part of an approved Rs 20,000 allocation, were delayed due to what officials cited as technical issues. Soni had earlier used his own money for the repairs, emphasizing the ongoing struggles faced by students. Arrests have not yet been made, but both implicated officials are facing charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act.