In Rajasthan’s anti-corruption drive, 10 officers and employees of the District Transport Office (DTO) in Sawai Madhopur have been suspended following an in-depth investigation conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and a corroborating departmental report. The investigation unearthed a deeply entrenched system of monthly bribes and illegal collections orchestrated within the transport department.
Among those suspended is District Transport Officer Punyaram Meena, whose name had emerged as a central figure in the corruption scandal. Meena was recently arrested by the ACB. Others suspended include:
- Former DTO Dashrath Guna
- Assistant Accountant Mansingh Meena
- Transport Inspector V.K. Singh
- Senior Assistant Vivek Singh
- Officers Omhari Upadhyay, Rohitash Singal, Ashok Guna
- Information Assistant Dhanesh
This action reflects the state’s commitment to administrative accountability and sets a precedent for similar probes across departments.
Bribes for Gravel: Illegal Mining Transport Racket Busted
The crackdown stems from a larger investigation into illegal gravel transportation across the region. According to the ACB, a powerful nexus of transport and police department officials was involved in providing safe passage to trucks carrying illegally mined gravel. In return, officers allegedly collected bribes on a monthly basis.
The ACB presented digital evidence, mobile call records, and intercepted communications confirming that these bribes were systematized and managed through a network of middlemen. One such middleman, Ram Raj Meena, was found to be operating as the key conduit between illegal transporters and government officials. His call records revealed regular coordination with multiple officers.
Notably, DTO Punyaram Meena, DSP Surendra Sharma, and middlemen Ram Raj Meena and Pradeep were produced before the ACB court and have since been sent to judicial custody.
ACB Probes Widen: More Departments Under Scanner
The ACB’s operation is far from over. With the evidence pointing toward a broader network of corruption, notices have been issued to officials in other departments potentially linked to the scam. Sources indicate that regular interrogations are being conducted at ACB headquarters in Jaipur, and more arrests may be on the horizon.
The scope of the case suggests that bribes were being collected not only from illegal miners but also from legal transporters, coerced under threat of harassment. The use of intimidation, coupled with bureaucratic protection, allowed the racket to flourish unchecked for months, if not years.
This case could become one of Rajasthan’s largest corruption exposes in recent times and is expected to have ripple effects on administrative reforms across departments.
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A Landmark Test for Rajasthan’s Anti-Corruption Policy
This high-profile case from Sawai Madhopur underlines the deep-rooted nature of corruption within local government machinery. However, the swift and decisive response by the Rajasthan government and the ACB indicates a serious shift towards clean governance and accountability. With several officers already suspended and others under investigation, this case is being closely watched as a litmus test of the state’s zero-tolerance policy.
As the ACB widens its net, further revelations are expected in the coming weeks, possibly implicating more officials and deepening public scrutiny into the functioning of enforcement agencies in the state.
