**Bribery Racket in Land Mutation Exposed: Circle Officer Among Three Arrested by ACB**

**Ranchi:** The Jharkhand Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested three individuals, including the Circle Officer (CO) of Budhmu Circle, for allegedly demanding bribes to process a land mutation application.

Those arrested are **Gautam Kishore Ravi**, **Rajesh Kishore Ravi** (Revenue Sub-Inspector/Revenue Employee), and **Sachchidanand Kumar Verma**, the Circle Officer of Budhmu. A case has been registered against all three under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and further legal proceedings are underway.

### Land Mutation Delayed for Over 3 Acres

According to the ACB, the case originated from a complaint filed by **Subodh Kumar**, a resident of Brambe in Ranchi's Mandar police station area. He alleged that despite the successful registration of **3 acres and 20 decimals** of land in Mouza Sasam in the names of his wife, **Pinky Devi**, and his sisters-in-law, **Jaya Kumari** and **Sangeeta Gupta**, the mutation process remained pending for several months after the application had been submitted.

When the complainant visited the Budhmu Circle Office to inquire about the delay, the Circle Officer allegedly directed him to meet Revenue Employee **Rajesh Kishore Ravi**. Rajesh reportedly informed him that the mutation would require a payment of **₹80,000 to ₹90,000**, later indicating that the amount could be negotiated.

On a subsequent visit, the complainant again approached the Circle Officer but was referred back to Rajesh. During this process, Rajesh allegedly connected him with his brother, **Gautam Kishore Ravi**, who instructed the complainant to pay **₹10,000 as the first installment**, assuring him that the remaining amount could be paid after the mutation was completed.

### ACB Trap Leads to Arrests

Instead of paying the bribe, the complainant approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau. After verifying the allegations, the ACB found sufficient evidence that a bribe had indeed been demanded.

The bureau then laid a trap. As soon as **Gautam Kishore Ravi** accepted the **₹10,000** marked currency, ACB officials caught him red-handed. Further investigation corroborated the complainant's allegations, leading to the arrest of **Rajesh Kishore Ravi** and **Circle Officer Sachchidanand Kumar Verma**.

The ACB has registered a case against all three accused under the **Prevention of Corruption Act**, and the investigation is continuing.