‘All assistants, secretaries deposit ₹3,000 each’:Sub-engineer’s WhatsApp chat sparks row; staff allegedly asked to pay before minister’s visit

A controversy has erupted in Sidhi district after a WhatsApp chat surfaced ahead of the proposed visit of in-charge minister Dilip Jaiswal. The viral chat allegedly shows a demand for ₹3,000 each from village employment assistants and secretaries by Majhauli Janpad Panchayat sub-engineer AK Deepankar and SDO Sarita Singh. It was claimed that the money was sought for arrangements during the minister’s visit. After the matter came to light, Collector Vikas Mishra ordered an inquiry. Officials and the in-charge minister, however, have rejected the allegations. Viral chat mentions depositing Rs 3,000 According to the viral WhatsApp chat, Majhauli Janpad Panchayat sub-engineer Deepankar asked village employment assistants to deposit ₹3,000. It is alleged that SDO Sarita Singh also instructed them to submit the amount immediately. The claim was that the money was being collected for preparations for the in-charge minister’s two-day visit. The amount was allegedly sought from village employment assistants of around 10 gram panchayats, including Parsili, Chamaradol, Naudhiya and Karmayi. SDO’s clarification – Amount was demanded for audit work Shiv Sena state vice-president Vivek Pandey alleged that employees were being financially pressured in the name of the minister’s visit. However, SDO Sarita Singh rejected the allegations and said no illegal recovery was made from any employee. She claimed that the Janpad’s audit work is pending and a plan was being prepared to complete the pending tasks through a consultancy agency to improve the district’s ranking. She said the ₹3,000 amount was sought for this purpose. Agency not decided, then why the amount? The sub-engineer also gave a similar explanation. However, when asked about the name of the consultancy agency, he admitted that no agency has been selected so far. This has raised questions over why money was being demanded before finalising the agency. Collector orders investigation After the issue surfaced, Collector Vikas Mishra ordered an investigation. The District Public Relations Office clarified that all expenses for the in-charge minister’s visit will be borne through the district hospitality fund as per rules. It also stated that no money is being sought from any employee or officer for the visit. Minister-in-charge says – This is Congress’s conspiracy In-charge minister Dilip Jaiswal rejected the allegations and called them a “well-planned conspiracy by Congress”. He said no employee was asked for money for his arrangements. He added that no such amount was collected from anyone during the Governor’s visit either and no such demand has been made this time as well.