Officer accused of molestation now faces 50% commission charge:Assistant Director in Narmadapuram under scrutiny in 4 separate cases

An Assistant Director in the Women and Child Development Department in Narmadapuram, Sanjay Jain, is facing fresh allegations of demanding a 50% commission for clearing bills. Departmental Commissioner Nidhi Nivedita has issued him a notice, seeking a reply within 15 days. Jain was earlier booked under molestation charges and the SC/ST Act following a complaint by a female employee. He has denied all allegations, calling them part of a conspiracy. A Bhaskar investigation reviewed four major controversies linked to Jain. Case 1: Alleged 50% cut in ‘Beti Bachao’ funds On January 12, 2026, Pipariya Project Officer Anil Kumar Chaudhary, Makhan Nagar Project Officer Sushma Chaurasia, and Assistant Grade-3 Amit Kaur submitted a written complaint against Jain. They alleged that between December 20, 2025, and January 4, 2026—when Jain was holding additional charge as District Programme Officer—he pressured them to pay 50% of the allocated funds under the Central Government’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme. According to the complaint: Out of nine CDPOs (Child Development Project Officers), two have reportedly accused Jain of demanding a 50% commission. Jain has challenged the allegation, saying: If there is any proof of commission demand, it should be presented. Even WhatsApp call records should be examined. Case 2: Molestation allegations by woman employee About 20 days ago, an FIR was registered against Jain under charges of molestation and provisions of the SC/ST Act, based on a complaint by a 42-year-old woman employee from the same department. The woman alleged that Jain would stare at her whenever she visited his cabin and often hold her hand. If she resisted, he allegedly threatened to terminate her employment. She told police that on December 1 at around 2:30 PM, while she was walking on the office terrace during lunch break, Jain came up behind her, grabbed her waist, and allegedly touched her inappropriately. “When I tried to scream, he pressed my mouth shut and threatened to kill me if I told anyone. He said he would make sure I lost my job,” she alleged in her statement. She claimed she endured harassment for three months before submitting a written complaint to District Programme Officer (DPO) Lalit Daheria on January 12. She alleged that no action was taken initially. Jain denies charges Jain has denied the accusations, claiming the woman employee had frequent absences from duty. He stated that: “Because I initiated action for replacing her, she has levelled false allegations,” Jain said. He further claimed that his chamber has transparent glass panels, making any misconduct visible from outside. Jain did not attend office the day after the FIR was registered. Instead, he filed a written complaint with the Inspector General of Police and Superintendent of Police, denying the charges. He also claimed that at the time of the alleged terrace incident, he was on Chakkar Road picking up his children from office, which, he said, could be verified through mobile location data and CCTV footage. Case 3: Suspension for misleading assembly Jain was previously suspended while serving as District Programme Officer in Bhind district. He was accused of providing contradictory information to the Madhya Pradesh Assembly regarding tender processes for material distribution to Anganwadi centres and self-help groups. In response to a starred question by MLAs Narendra Singh Kushwah (Bhind) and Keshav Desai (Gohad), it was stated that no tender had been issued for supplying materials to Anganwadi centres. However, a revised reply later stated that a tender had indeed been floated for transporting Take-Home Ration (THR). Two different responses to the same question led to allegations that the Assembly was misled. Further, although a tender had been cancelled on February 5, 2025 due to insufficient bids, this information was uploaded to the MP Tender Portal only on March 11, 2025—after the revised Assembly reply had already been submitted on March 10. Authorities alleged that the delay in uploading the cancellation created confusion and misrepresented facts. Jain challenged his suspension in the High Court, which reportedly termed the suspension improper and ordered his reinstatement. Case 4: Irregularities in Tribal Welfare Department Jain also held additional charge as District Coordinator in the Tribal Welfare Department in Bhind. Complaints of irregularities and corruption in material purchases under the Scheduled Caste/Tribe Welfare Department led to a Lokayukta inquiry. Based on the inquiry report: The Deputy Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department wrote to the Bhind Collector and Tribal Affairs Department, recommending action against Jain based on the findings. Jain served as In-charge District Programme Officer in Bhind from February 25, 2024 to January 6, 2025, while also handling additional responsibilities in the Tribal Welfare Department. The matter remains pending, with authorities seeking Jain’s detailed explanation and supporting documents before taking further action. Department says inquiry ongoing District Programme Officer Lalit Daheria confirmed that a point-wise investigation into the allegations is underway. “The CDPOs have accused him of demanding money. The Commissioner has issued a notice. Statements are being recorded and the inquiry is in progress,” Daheria said. Jain has declined to comment on camera, stating that since a departmental inquiry is ongoing, he will not speak publicly. As multiple allegations—ranging from commission demands and harassment to administrative irregularities—mount against him, the outcome of the ongoing investigations will determine the next course of action.