Raipur. Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials on Thursday arrested a government school principal and a clerk for allegedly accepting a ₹10,000 bribe in Janjgir-Champa district.
ACB officials arrested Anjula Soni, principal of Government Higher Secondary School, Kirari, and Vikas Masih, Assistant Grade-3 clerk, following a trap operation conducted on September 3.
The complainant, Manish Rathore, an Assistant Grade-3 employee at the same school, had completed his probation period and was regularized in 2025. He was due to receive around ₹80,000 in salary increment arrears pending from 2022 to June 2026.
According to the complaint, Principal Anjula Soni demanded ₹20,000 as a bribe to clear the pending arrears. After Rathore requested a reduction, she allegedly agreed to accept ₹10,000.
Unwilling to pay the bribe, Rathore approached the ACB Bilaspur unit and filed a complaint. After verifying the complaint, ACB officials planned a trap at the school premises.
During the operation, Soni and Masih were caught red-handed while accepting ₹10,000 from Rathore.
The ACB has registered a case against both accused under Sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Amended 2018). Further investigation is underway.
