Patwari burns currency notes, legal action sought

BHOPAL: Day after a patwari burned currency notes, Lokayukta's special police establishment (SPE) on Wednesday sought legal opinion from the state government on course of action against him.
Accused Ramnivas Jonwar, the patwari posted in Gwalior, had on Tuesday burned Rs 4,000, in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination he had allegedly taken as bribe from a farmer for issuing record of his land.When SPE team raided his residence at Sheelnagar at 9.30 am, he had locked him in bathroom, burned the currency and stayed there for more than four hours
When he refused to come out despite SPE team asking him to do so, raiding team called senior revenue officials to get him out of the washroom. Farmer Jitendra Pandey had lodged a complaint with SPE, Gwalior that Jonwar was demanding Rs 4,000 from him to issue land record books of his 11 bigha land.
After initial complaint, SPE officials registered a complaint and sent Pandey with colour-laced bait money. As soon as Jonwar collected the money, SPE team entered his residence. SPE officials then informed the matter to district administration. Tehsildar Bhumija Saxena reached Jonwar's house after three hours. SPE charged him under Section 201 (destroying evidences) of IPC along with different sections of PC Act. "Burning currency is also a serious offence. We have sought legal opinion for further action against him," SPE SP said.