On Thursday, April 16th, a troubling incident unfolded in Rajasthan that deeply contrasted with the public image of a rising administrative star. The state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) took three individuals into custody, including a highly regarded Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), for accepting a bribe. The operation also led to the unexpected discovery of a substantial, unexplained sum of cash, casting a long shadow over the local administrative office.

At the center of this controversy is Kajal Meena, the Sub-Divisional Officer assigned to the Nadauti sub-division in the Karauli district. To truly grasp the shock of this event, it is essential to look at her previously inspiring background. Hailing from Badoli village in the Sawai Madhopur district—a town situated very close to her current posting—she had built a remarkable academic and professional portfolio. She holds a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from the prestigious IIT Mandi. While she was selected as a Junior Engineer (JEN) in 2017, she chose not to join, instead working as an Assistant Section Officer (ASO) in the Department of Telecommunications and later as an officer in the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

Her crowning achievement came when she emerged as a 2024-batch Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officer, securing the top rank in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. During a mock interview leading up to her administrative career, when asked why she wanted to join the civil services, she candidly noted the appeal of the state’s top service, the high regard it commands, and the good pay and benefits. She then famously added that “an administrative officer can use their legitimate authority to bring positive changes in the life of the common people.” Her administrative journey began as an Assistant Collector (Under Training) in Tonk, followed by a stint as the Sub-Divisional Officer in Suhagpura, Pratapgarh. In October 2025, she took charge as the SDM in Nadauti, marking her second major posting. Sadly, the very authority she spoke of using for positive change allegedly became a tool for extortion.

The events leading to her arrest began when a local citizen approached the SDM office to secure the final decree for his land. Instead of a straightforward administrative process, he was met with demands for illegal gratification. According to ACB Director General Govind Gupta, the Sawai Madhopur unit of the ACB received a serious complaint that Meena, utilizing her reader, Dinesh Kumar Saini, was actively harassing the complainant.

Initially, the demand was set at a steep ₹1 lakh for the release of the final land order. After negotiations, the sum was brought down to ₹50,000 meant for the SDM. However, the situation was covertly verified by ACB officials, who discovered that the reader had tacked on an additional ₹10,000 for his own involvement, bringing the final agreed-upon bribe to ₹60,000.

With the facts confirmed, the ACB set a trap. The complainant was instructed to visit the Nadauti SDM office to hand over the money. As the exchange took place, the reader accepted the cash and subsequently passed it along to Praveen Dhakad, a Senior Assistant in the office.

Waiting nearby, the ACB team swooped in immediately after the transaction was completed, arresting Meena, Saini, and Dhakad on the spot. When the authorities searched the Senior Assistant's bag to recover the ₹60,000 bribe, they stumbled upon an additional ₹4 lakh in cash. Officials suspect that this substantial sum was collected from other potential bribery schemes run out of the SDM’s office. Addressing this discovery, the ACB formally stated, “The investigation regarding the said suspicious amount is also ongoing.”

The sting operation was executed with precision by a team led by Gyan Singh Chaudhary, the Additional SP of ACB Sawai Madhopur. The entire maneuver was closely supervised by the ACB Deputy Inspector General of Police, Dr. Rameshwar Singh. Currently, the three accused are undergoing intense questioning directed by Inspector General of Police S. Parimala and supervised by Additional Director General of Police Smita Srivastava.

A formal case has now been registered against the individuals under the Prevention of Corruption Act. As the ACB continues its thorough investigation, the arrest of Kajal Meena stands as a stark reminder of the continuous vigilance maintained by anti-corruption agencies. It also raises profound concerns regarding the integrity within public administration, leaving the region to grapple with the wider implications this case will have on local governance and accountability.