Sonepat DC PA bribery case: Trail of transactions worth ₹75 lakh found

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe a major bribery scandal linked to Shashank Sharma, Personal Assistant (PA) to Sonepat Deputy Commissioner, who was recently arrested for allegedly accepting a Rs 3.5 lakh bribe from a fellow clerk.

The case has widened significantly after ACB recovered Rs 5.75 lakh in cash from the accused’s house and scanned his blue iPhone 14, revealing a trail of suspicious financial transactions worth over Rs 75 lakh via Google Pay and PhonePe, involving both government employees and private individuals.

“It is a very high-profile matter. The investigation is ongoing, and the SIT headed by DSP Somvir is examining every angle,” said a senior official on condition of anonymity. Clerks, drivers and operators among those who transferred money.

According to the ACB’s report submitted to the court, numerous government employees had transferred money to Sharma. These include: Harish Kumar (Assistant, Nazar Branch) Rs 20,000, Anup Singh (DITS Operator) Rs 2.19 lakh, Praveen Kumar (driver, DC Camp Office) Rs 10,000, Akhil (DITS operator, Sonepat Tehsil) Rs 1.30 lakh and Deepanshu (DITS operator) Rs 2.75 lakh.

The probe also revealed money transfers from private persons, such as Ashish Dhiman (Rs 4.30 lakh), Mohit Dhiman (Rs 50,000) and Vinay (Rs 55,000).

Sharma disclosed during interrogation that Ashish Dhiman is his close friend and Mohit is Ashish’s younger brother.

“The ACB has unearthed over Rs 75 lakh in digital transactions, mainly from officials in the DC office and some outsiders. This indicates a strong nexus where appointments may have been influenced by money. A high-level probe is essential,” said Advocate Yudhvir Dahiya, counsel for the complainant.

The ACB suspects a recruitment-for-bribes racket within the Sonepat DC office, with officials possibly buying posts or favours through digital transfers.

Haryana Tribune