Jhalawar/Jaipur: In an unusual corruption case in Jhalawar, Rajasthan, a senior engineer of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Vishnu Chand Goyal, allegedly demanded an iPhone 16 Pro as a bribe in exchange for clearing bills. The complainant approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which set a trap and caught the officer red-handed while accepting the ₹84,000 iPhone.
Cases involving cash bribes are common, but this incident stands out due to the high-end gadget demanded instead of money. According to ACB sources, the complainant’s firm, which repairs handpumps and fixes pipeline leaks, had completed its work, but the department officials were delaying payments. The firm had submitted labor bills, which were allegedly dismissed as fake, and the complainant was threatened with blacklisting.
During a meeting with the complainant, XEN Vishnu Chand Goyal reportedly demanded the iPhone in return for clearing the pending bills and stopping harassment. Following the complaint, a trap operation under the supervision of DIG Anand Sharma, Kota Range, was carried out. Additional SP Prerna Shekhawat confirmed the details of the operation.
The ACB, under ADG Smita Srivastava, also conducted searches at the accused officer’s residence and office. According to ACB DG Govind Gupta, the officer demanded either an iPhone 16 Pro or 17, and the bill for the phone was to be made in his name. After the complainant purchased the iPhone and handed it over, the officer was immediately apprehended.
This case highlights a rare and audacious form of corruption, where a high-end smartphone replaced cash as a bribe, reminding public servants that even their luxury indulgences cannot escape the law.
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