3 staff, including Agriculture Minister’s OSD, suspended:Bhaskar’s report mentioned in suspension order over bribery allegations

The Madhya Pradesh government has suspended three officials, including the OSD to Agriculture Minister Edal Singh Kansana, with immediate effect after they were caught on a sting operation allegedly negotiating bribes in exchange for transfers. The suspension orders explicitly mention a report published by Dainik Bhaskar. The suspended officials include OSD Ashok Kumar Batham, Personal Assistant Dinesh Bhakoria and stenotypist Ankit Avadhia. All three were allegedly recorded by Bhaskar’s investigative team while discussing transfer deals in exchange for money. The sting was conducted during a period between June 1 and June 16 when the state government had temporarily lifted restrictions on transfers of government employees. During this time, the officials were allegedly found negotiating deals ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh for transfers of posts including agricultural extension officers, nurses and forest guards. OSD Ashok Kumar Batham sent to Sidhi According to the order issued by the Department of Farmers’ Welfare and Agriculture Development on June 29, Batham was suspended following “serious allegations” reported in a news item published on June 20. The department stated that, based on available facts and prima facie evidence, action was taken under the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1966. During the suspension period, Batham’s headquarters has been fixed at the office of the Deputy Director, Farmers’ Welfare and Agriculture Development, Sidhi. He will also be entitled to subsistence allowance as per rules. In the sting interaction, Batham was allegedly approached at the minister’s bungalow, where he reportedly asked whether the payment was in cash and demanded Rs 2.5 lakh for the transfer of an agricultural extension officer. 2 more officials suspended by General Administration Department On July 2, the General Administration Department issued separate orders suspending stenotypist Ankit Avadhia and Personal Assistant Dinesh Bhakoria. The orders stated that both officials were seen in the Bhaskar sting allegedly demanding money in exchange for a nurse’s transfer. It is alleged that Avadhia demanded Rs 5 lakh, while Bhakoria asked for Rs 3.5 lakh for facilitating the transfer. Both officials have been suspended with immediate effect and their headquarters has been shifted to the General Administration Department (Pool), Ministry, Bhopal. Sting operation cited in suspension orders The suspension orders also reference the Bhaskar investigative report that exposed alleged corruption in transfer postings during the temporary relaxation period. The report had shown officials linked to the minister’s office, a clerk from Vallabh Bhavan and an employee of the Energy Development Corporation allegedly demanding and negotiating bribes for transfers.