Jaipur, Oct 6 (IANS): The Rajasthan government has suspended SOG ASP Mukesh Kumar Soni, who was arrested in connection with an alleged Rs 2 crore bribery case in Udaipur. The government took action based on a report submitted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Soni is accused of demanding a Rs 2 crore bribe in exchange for providing relief to accused persons in a case involving 272 land plots in Udaipur. On September 26, the ACB arrested alleged middleman Sajjan Singh Jain, alias Tatla, while he was allegedly accepting Rs 2 crore.
The following day, the ACB arrested ASP Mukesh Soni. The investigation is ongoing. The Home Department issued the suspension order after receiving approval from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). The suspension is effective from September 27.
Soni is accused of accepting a Rs crore bribe through two middlemen in connection with the Udaipur land matter. Speculation over Soni’s suspension had been ongoing since his arrest in the high-value bribery case. With the Home Department now issuing the formal order, the departmental action has been officially initiated.
The case has drawn particular attention as it involves an ASP-rank officer serving in the SOG, a specialised investigative unit of the Rajasthan Police.
Departmental proceedings are expected to continue alongside the ongoing investigation and legal process. As part of the investigation, the ACB team took alleged middleman Sajjan Singh to Soni’s residence and conducted an on-site verification. Investigating Officer Mahavir Singh Shekhawat led the operation.
According to the ACB investigation, Sajjan Singh frequently visited Soni’s residence and met him there in connection with the alleged bribery transaction.
The investigation also found that Soni allegedly changed the scheduled meeting time at Rani Road three times on September 23. The meeting was initially scheduled for 10 a.m., but was later shifted to 1 p.m. and then to 5 p.m.
Even after the final scheduled time, Soni reportedly arrived about 90 minutes late, reaching the location at around 6.30 p.m. Sajjan Singh had arrived near the Mahakaleshwar Temple with complainant Niranjan Mogra. Shortly afterward, Soni arrived in his car and called both men over to the vehicle.
The three reportedly spoke for around four minutes. According to the ACB, rather than discussing the alleged bribe amount verbally, Soni communicated the details by typing them on his mobile phone. The
ACB said the alleged demand for a Rs 2 crore bribe was verified over three days through digital recordings after the complaint was received. The agency said the demand was confirmed during the verification process.
The alleged middleman also facilitated two WhatsApp calls between the complainant and Soni. The ACB said it had secured digital recordings relating to the conversation and the verification process.
During the investigation, the ACB recovered files relating to 41 plots from Soni’s office. The plots were linked to the Municipal Corporation, and several documents in the files reportedly carried the seal and signature of the UDA (Urban Development Authority).
The ACB is investigating whether the documents bearing the UDA seal and signature are genuine or fabricated. Investigators also found instances in which files containing altered plot numbers appeared after the original files, bringing alleged file tampering and changes to plot numbers within the scope of the investigation.
The case is linked to the Udaipur 272-plot matter. According to the allegations, forged documents and lease deeds were created for vacant and cancelled plots to facilitate changes in ownership records, after which the plots were allegedly sold.
An FIR in the matter was registered at Surajpol Police Station in 2022.
Following the investigation, the Municipal Corporation cancelled 48 lease deeds. In connection with the same case, the SOG had arrested former District Minority Officer Hemlata Kankariya and her husband, Niranjan Mogra.
During the investigation, approximately two kg of gold jewellery and Rs 11 lakh in cash were reportedly recovered from Mogra’s residence. The allegation was that a Rs 2 crore bribe was demanded in exchange for filing a final report to close the case and returning the seized items.
Further investigation into the matter is underway.
