In a spectacular turn of events, a patwari working in the revenue department of Madhya Pradesh's Katni district got himself into difficulty when he attempted to consume bribe money to avoid capture.
The patwari, identified as Gajendra Singh, was apprehended while collecting a bribe of Rs 4,500 from a complainant named Chandan Singh Lodhi in a land matter by a squad from Jabalpur Lokayukta's Special Police Establishment (SPE).
Lodhi filed a complaint with the Lokayukta Jabalpur, alleging that the patwari requested Rs 5,000 as a bribe to resolve the land dispute. A thorough investigation was performed in response to the complaint, taking the SPE team to Bilhari, where Gajendra Singh's private office was located.
The team was able to catch him in the act of collecting the bribe, which elicited an incredible reaction from the patwari. Gajendra Singh, realising he was being pursued, used an unorthodox and desperate approach to destroy the evidence against him.
In an unexpected move, he chewed and swallowed the money notes directly in front of the cops. Undaunted by his actions, the squad arrested him right away and brought him to the district hospital for medical assistance.
Doctors at the hospital laboured tirelessly to extricate the bribe notes from Gajendra Singh's mouth, eventually extracting them in a pulpy form.
According to Sanjay Sahu, Superintendent of Police at SPE, a man from Barkheda village first denounced Singh's unethical practices, which led to the operation that resulted in his detention.
Despite his efforts to erase evidence, Gajendra Singh's actions only increased the gravity of his crime.
Authorities filed a case against him, and other investigations were being conducted to find any additional cases of corruption or misbehaviour.
This incident serves as a sharp reminder of the existence of corruption in certain areas of society, as well as the importance of anti-corruption efforts spearheaded by organisations such as Lokayukta.
While the matter is being investigated further, it emphasises the necessity of upholding ethical conduct and the rule of law, and holding those who engage in corrupt practises accountable for their acts.