In a startling crackdown highlighting the reach of Rajasthan’s Anti-Corruption Bureau, even into its own ranks, a senior Anti-Corruption Bureau officer was apprehended with nearly ₹9.5 lakh hidden in his vehicle in suspected illicit cash during a surprise highway check, igniting questions over internal accountability.
From Farewell to Fallout
Jagaram Meena had been posted in Jhalawar for more than a year and was recently transferred to Bhilwara. He had attended a formal farewell ceremony at the Jhalawar ACB office earlier in the day. However, instead of proceeding directly to his new posting, he was intercepted by Jaipur ACB teams near Shivdaspura toll plaza, an unexpected move that was based on confidential intelligence.
ACB Jaipur’s Additional SP Pushpendra Singh, who led the operation, stated that Meena could not provide any satisfactory documentation or justification for carrying such a large amount of cash. Investigators believe the funds were part of systematic collections allegedly extorted from various sources during Meena’s tenure.
The Raid and Its Aftermath
Sources familiar with the investigation explained that the practice of “monthly bhandi”, where field officers receive regular payments from businesses and local officials, remains an open secret in many departments, including those tasked with fighting corruption. The operation was carried out discreetly to prevent any tip-offs that could have allowed Meena to evade detection or destroy evidence.
Officials revealed that the cash seizure has now triggered a formal inquiry under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Rajasthan ACB is expected to summon Meena for extended questioning over the source of the funds and the broader network potentially involved in such illicit collections. Meanwhile, sources said more surprise checks and internal audits are likely to follow across the state’s anti-corruption units, as the government seeks to reassure the public that the bureau itself is not immune to scrutiny.
Observers noted the irony of an anti-corruption officer being ensnared by the very institution he represented. Public trust in enforcement agencies, already strained by frequent allegations of collusion, is likely to face renewed skepticism in the aftermath of this embarrassment.
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