Jaipur | May 19, 2025 — In a stunning revelation that has rocked Rajasthan’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), the agency’s own Additional Superintendent of Police (Addl. SP), Surendra Kumar Sharma, has been taken into custody for his alleged involvement in a major bribery and extortion racket. He was detained in Jaipur alongside two middlemen — Ramraj Meena and Pradeep alias Bunty Parik — who were caught red-handed accepting ₹13 lakh in cash.
ACB Officer Caught in His Own Net
According to a press release from the ACB headquarters, the bureau had received credible intelligence that illegal money collection was being carried out in Sawai Madhopur on behalf of a senior ACB officer based in Jaipur. The subsequent internal investigation revealed that Addl. SP Sharma was using his influence and a network of middlemen to collect large sums of money from excise officials, liquor traders, and other government personnel in exchange for protection from ACB or other agency action.
The bribes were being extracted under the guise of “setting” and ensuring immunity from future corruption investigations. Middlemen reportedly threatened officials with false reporting, suspension, and raids unless they paid up.
Alcohol, Threats, and Call Recordings Part of the Evidence
The ACB has confirmed the recovery of cash, liquor bottles, and electronic evidence during the operation. Call recordings and video clips capturing the bribe negotiations are now in the possession of investigators. These materials show that liquor bottles were used as part of the illegal transactions, alongside threats to public servants about facing fabricated charges or departmental actions.
Ramraj Meena, one of the middlemen, was found with several bottles of liquor during his arrest. The illicit deals were being facilitated under the pretext of “saving” officers from ACB scrutiny in return for money and favors.
₹13 Lakh Cash Seized, FIR Registered
The ACB has registered an FIR (No. 119/2025) under multiple sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, including Sections 7, 7A, 8, 11, and 12, against Surendra Kumar Sharma, Ramraj Meena, and Pradeep Parik. Investigators confirmed that ₹13 lakh in cash was recovered as part of a pre-arranged payoff.
Sources close to the probe suggest that the bribes were not limited to one deal, and more officials and departments may be implicated as the investigation widens.
A Blow to ACB’s Image, But a Message of Accountability
This case has sparked widespread discussion about internal corruption within agencies tasked with fighting it. However, officials from ACB headquarters have emphasized that this action reinforces the agency’s zero-tolerance stance toward corruption — even when it involves its own personnel.
The operation was carried out secretly and swiftly, ensuring that no evidence was tampered with and that all suspects were apprehended with incriminating material in hand.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.