Kaithal Bribery Case: SDM Named in ₹5 Lakh Demand Row

April 18, 2026

Kaithal, April 18: A new twist has emerged in the case involving the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) arrested on charges of accepting a bribe in Guhla Cheeka, Kaithal district. The complainant has alleged that, in addition to the BDPO, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Guhla also received a share of the bribe money. In his statement, the complainant claimed to have recorded the BDPO demanding the money; in the recording, the BDPO himself can be heard stating that the cost would be five lakh rupees.

He Was Not the Only One Accepting Money

The complainant left the office and subsequently spoke with the BDPO over the phone. During this conversation, the BDPO reiterated that the full amount had to be paid, explaining that he was not the only one receiving money and that a share also had to be given to the SDM who, he claimed, had a personal stake in the matter and was taking a direct interest in the case. The complainant stated that the BDPO himself makes these assertions in the audio recording.

Investigation into the Involvement of Others

In exchange for halting the demolition, the BDPO had demanded a sum of five lakh rupees from the complainant. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) team is now attempting to ascertain whether any other officials or employees besides the BDPO were also involved in accepting the bribe. Currently, the ACB team is conducting a thorough investigation into the matter.

ACB Inspector Sube Singh speaking about the case. It is reported that the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) of Guhla in Kaithal has been caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹5 lakh. It is alleged that the BDPO had issued a demolition order for a house and subsequently demanded a bribe of ₹5 lakh from the individual in exchange for halting the demolition.

Exerting Pressure for Demolition

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) apprehended the BDPO following a complaint filed by Sandeep, a resident of Badsuhi village. In his complaint, Sandeep stated that despite having obtained stay orders from both the Civil Court and the Commissioner’s Court against a 2000 ruling by the SDM Court, the Panchayat official, Jagjit Singh was continuing to exert pressure for the demolition of the house.

MLA Had Attempted to Hand a ‘Rattle’ to the SDM

The complainant, Sandeep, revealed that the BDPO had mentioned the name of SDM Captain Parmesh Singh during the recorded conversation. This is the same SDM whom Devender Hans, the Congress MLA from Guhla, had once attempted to hand a ‘rattle’ (a toy symbolizing incompetence). The MLA had leveled allegations of corruption against the SDM. The MLA had remarked, “Your only job is to make money and shake a rattle; I will handle the actual work myself.”