DIDWANA/AJMER – In a major offensive against institutional corruption, the Ajmer Special Unit of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Pithdan Charan, the Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies in Didwana, on Tuesday evening. The officer was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹1 lakh in exchange for quashing a legal notice issued against a cooperative society chairman.
The Genesis: A Manufactured Default
The case surfaced following a complaint by Prem Singh Rajpurohit, the Chairman of the Gram Seva Sahkari Samiti Ltd, Jusri. According to the complaint, Rajpurohit had repaid a loan of ₹18,998 in May of the previous year. However, the society’s manager, Ajay Kumar, allegedly failed to record the payment and declared him a “defaulter.” Consequently, a notice under Section 99 was issued against him.
When Rajpurohit approached the Assistant Registrar’s office to clear his name, Pithdan Charan allegedly demanded ₹1 lakh to “file” (terminate) the proceedings. The demand was reportedly mediated through Rajpurohit’s friend, Gajendra Singh Bothra.
The Trap: Money Under the Blanket
The ACB initiated a verification process on May 1, 2026, which confirmed the bribery demand. After a brief delay due to inclement weather, the trap was finally set for the evening of May 5, 2026.
The Bureau’s team laid a strategic net at Charan’s rented residence located on the Ladnu Bypass. As instructed, Rajpurohit’s friend delivered the bribe—consisting of 200 currency notes of ₹500 denomination—to the officer. As soon as Charan accepted the cash and hid it under a blanket on his bed, the ACB team swooped in.
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Scientific Evidence and Immediate Recovery
The recovery was documented in the presence of independent witnesses. Key highlights of the operation include:
- Chemical Confirmation: A phenolphthalein powder test was conducted on Charan’s hands. His right hand turned pink and his left hand turned murky, providing scientific evidence of him handling the bribe money.
- Quid Pro Quo: In a startling discovery, investigators found that Charan had already signed and handed over the favorable judgment copies to the complainant immediately after receiving the cash.
- Seizure: The ACB seized the original case file (comprising 113 pages) along with the bribe amount.
Legal Action and Next Steps
The accused has been booked under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018). The investigation is currently being spearheaded by Vandana Bhati, Additional Superintendent of Police (ACB).
Following the arrest, the ACB is expected to conduct searches at the officer’s permanent residence and other properties to investigate potential disproportionate assets.
