Reader of SDO in ACB net

Bhandara: Ravikant Harihar Pathak, reader attached to the office of Deori subdivisional officer, was caught red-handed on Monday while accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from a farmer. According to reports, the complainant owns 1.48 hectares land in Paoni. A few days ago, the complainant came to know that in the revenue department’s records his brother has been shown as owner of that land. He lodged a complaint regarding this with the Deori tehsildar. As his plea was rejected, the farmer petitioned the Deori SDO who passed a judgment last week in favour of the complainant. When the farmer approached Pathak for a copy of the judgment, he demanded Rs 30,000 to oblige. As the farmer was reluctant to pay bribe, he lodged a complaint with the DySP of Gondia anti-corruption bureau. After verifying the farmer’s claim, the ACB sleuths, under the guidance of DySP Dinkar Thosare, laid a trap and caught Pathak while accepting the bribe.