Corruption charges against women officials rise in MP:Excise officer accused of extortion, DSP booked ₹1.5-cr hawala case; engineer found with ₹7 cr assets

For decades, discussions on bribery and corruption in government offices have largely focused on male officials. Women officers were often perceived as more disciplined, honest and accountable, and their public image remained comparatively untarnished. However, this perception has been steadily changing in Madhya Pradesh, where an increasing number of women officers and employees are now facing serious corruption charges. Recent cases show women officers being accused of bribery, organised extortion, collusion with hawala operators and possession of disproportionate assets. From senior police officers and excise officials to engineers, patwaris and even school teachers, women across departments have come under the scanner of the Lokayukta and the Economic Offences Wing (EOW). Neither the Lokayukta nor the EOW maintains separate year-wise data on women accused in corruption cases. However, an analysis of Lokayukta actions over the past two decades reveals a significant trend: the number of women convicted in bribery-related cases has nearly tripled in the last ten years. Bhaskar examined recent high-profile cases and spoke to experts to understand the reasons behind this growing pattern. Read the full report.. Liquor contractor’s suicide and extortion allegations One of the most disturbing cases involves Mandakini Dixit, Assistant Excise Commissioner and in-charge of Dewas district. Liquor contractor Dinesh Makwana died by suicide on November 8 after consuming poison. In a video recorded before his death, he accused Dixit of extorting a monthly bribe of ₹7.5 lakh. Makwana alleged that he had already paid ₹20–22 lakh but was under continuous pressure due to rising demands. He claimed that excise officials deliberately delayed supply of liquor stock to coerce him. After his death, his mother repeated the allegations, stating that her son was harassed repeatedly for money. Audio and video clips that later surfaced appeared to support these claims. Mandakini Dixit rejected all allegations and described herself as a victim of blackmail. She filed a written complaint with the Dewas Superintendent of Police, alleging that the contractor’s family was demanding ₹2 crore from her and threatening to circulate the video if the money was not paid. Following public outrage and political attention, the Chief Minister ordered her suspension on December 6. The case remains under investigation. SDOP and Hawala money In Seoni district, SDOP Pooja Pandey became the centre of a scandal involving hawala money. Acting on a tip-off, Pandey and Bandol police station TI Arpit Bhairam intercepted a Creta car allegedly carrying ₹3 crore in illegal cash bound for Nagpur. Instead of registering a case, the police team seized the money, kept it in their own vehicle and allowed the trader to leave. Believing that the trader would not complain due to the illegal nature of the money, the officers miscalculated. The trader reached the police station the next day. As the matter escalated, SDOP Pooja Pandey allegedly offered a deal: ₹1.5 crore for the police and ₹1.5 crore returned to the trader. However, when the trader received his share, ₹45 lakh was missing. This triggered a confrontation, drawing media attention. The incident embarrassed the police department. Nine policemen, including the TI, were suspended by the IG, followed by SDOP Pandey’s suspension by the DGP the next day. During the probe, ₹1.45 crore was recovered from police personnel. An FIR was registered against 11 officers, including Pandey, under charges such as dacoity, kidnapping, illegal detention and criminal conspiracy. Teacher ran illegal sand network across 23 districts The case of Pratibha Rai, a government mathematics teacher in Kirrod village of Sagar district’s Bina block, stunned officials. Bhaskar’s investigation revealed that Rai was allegedly running a large-scale illegal sand mining operation spanning 23 districts. Locals stated that no sand dumper could pass through the area without her approval. She reportedly claimed links with a private mining company and controlled illegal mining sites, mineral checkpoints and transportation routes. Officials from the mining department and local police were allegedly part of the network, causing losses worth crores to the state exchequer. After the expose, the education department initiated steps to take disciplinary action against her. Contract engineer’s assets worth ₹7 crore Another case that raised serious questions involved Hema Meena, a contract assistant engineer with the Madhya Pradesh Police Housing Corporation, earning around ₹30,000 per month. In May 2023, Lokayukta raids at her premises in Bhopal and Raisen revealed assets worth more than ₹7 crore. The seized properties included a luxury bungalow, nearly 20 high-end vehicles, expensive foreign-breed dogs and a farmhouse. Investigators found an LED television worth ₹30 lakh and a machine costing ₹2.5 lakh used to prepare food for over 50 dogs. The assets were several hundred times more than her known income. Following the raid, the government terminated her contract. Patwari caught taking bribe for land demarcation In Bhopal, Lokayukta officials arrested Patwari Supriya Jain while accepting a bribe for land demarcation. Posted in Huzur tehsil’s Patwari circle number 40, Jain allegedly demanded ₹36,000 for demarcating 18 acres of land, charging ₹2,000 per acre. Complainant Mohammad Aslam of Mubarakpur approached Lokayukta SP DK Rathore after repeated demands. On May 14, the Lokayukta team trapped Jain while she was accepting the first installment of ₹10,000 in the parking area of her residence at Himanshu Tower in Lalghati. Experts link trend to systemic issues Bhopal Lokayukta SP DK Rathore said corruption cases are treated equally, regardless of gender. He said, For us, there are no male or female officers, only corrupt officials. Action is taken based on complaints and evidence. Retired Lokayukta officer Naveen Awasthi noted that women’s participation in government services has increased significantly due to reservation and recruitment policies. As their numbers rise, their presence in corruption cases is also becoming more visible. He added that society expects higher moral standards from women, which makes such cases more shocking. According to him, the issue is not gender-specific but reflects deeper problems in training, ethics and the overall system. Without strengthening moral education and accountability, corruption will continue to surface across all sections of governance.