Devbhoomi Dwarka talati caught taking bribe for processing toilet construction application

“Goradiya, a casual labourer had submitted his application to Kajurda village panchayat to avail an assistance of Rs 12,000 to construct a toilet at his home. The talati accepts the application and forwards it to the office of taluka development officer for approval. However, Jadeja demanded Rs 2,500 from Goradiya to process his application on February 1. Instead of paying up, Goradiya filed a complaint with us on Wednesday. Acting on the complaint, we laid a trap and arrested the talati when he was caught red-handed taking the bribe,” Himanshu Doshi, field police inspector of Rajkot division of ACB told The Indian Express.   

ACB said that after Goradiya agreed to pay him the bribe, Jadeja submitted his application to TDO office on Thursday with the necessary documents such as receipt of property tax payment itc. After submitting the form, he came out of taluka panchayat office to accept the bribe from Goradiya and was nabbed by ACB.

Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, Central government gives assistance worth Rs12,000 to a BPL family for constructing toilet at home. Above Poverty Line (APL) families get Rs4,000 from Central government and Rs4,000 from Gujarat government for constructing an individual toilet.

After approving an application forwarded by a talati, TDO issues work order asking an applicant to start constructing toilet. Moeny is transferred to his bank account after toilet is constructed and a photograph of such a toilet is submitted as proof.