Overview
- District project coordinator Pradeep Kumar Khare, who was caught in a Lokayukta trap on Monday at Dhar's Circuit House, allegedly took Rs 1 lakh to sign completion certificates.
- The complaint by acting assistant engineer Dilip Sadhav led investigators to set up the trap after he reported a 5% commission demand for approvals.
- The alleged demand covered 122 school toilets budgeted at about Rs 3.42 crore under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, a program that funds basic facilities in government schools.
- Lokayukta officials registered a case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, and said a detailed probe is in progress.
- Reports differ on custody status, with some saying he was arrested and a Lokayukta officer stating he had not been arrested yet, while Khare claims he was framed and says funds go directly to school principals.