KAITHAL: Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Kaithal district has registered a case against Jitendra Kumar, ward-14 councilor of Municipality Cheeka, on serious charges of demanding bribe and arrested him. today. The councilor is accused of demanding a bribe of Rs 50 lakh for himself and his two fellow councilors in return for not voting in the no-confidence motion brought against Municipality President Rekha Rani and Vice President Pooja Sharma.
This proposed voting was to be held on July 3. Complainant Vijay Kumar resident Cheeka told in the complaint given to ACB Ambala that he is a trusted aide of Municipality Vice President Pooja Sharma. There was discussion going on for some time about bringing a no-confidence motion in the municipality. During this, Councilor Jitendra Kumar along with his two other councilor colleagues contacted Vijay and said that they would vote against the proposal, but wanted an amount of Rs 50 lakh in return. Only then will he vote in favor.
According to Vijay Kumar, the three councilors had demanded to give Rs 6 lakh in cash in advance and said that the remaining amount would be taken later. Vijay recorded this entire conversation secretly and handed it over to ACB along with the evidence. When the councilors realized that the complainant might take legal action, they distanced themselves from the matter by denying bribery. After this, Vijay lodged a complaint with ACB with the consent of Pooja Sharma.
After investigation by ACB, voice match test of the voice of accused councilor Jitendra Kumar was done at Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) located in Madhuban, in which the voice of the recording matched with him. After this the ACB team arrested him from his shop located in Cheeka Bazaar. Police remand will be obtained by presenting the accused councilor in the court today. The Bureau team is now deeply investigating the bribery transactions and the role of others involved.
ACB Kaithal Incharge Inspector Mahendra Singh said that while acting on Vijay's complaint, the investigation found the allegations to be true. Councilor Jitendra Kumar has been arrested after the voice matching report came from Madhuban FSL. The role of other councilors may also come to light in the investigation. If evidence is found, a case will be registered against them and they will be arrested and further action will be initiated against them