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Rajasthan govt official’s wife received salary for no work, meant as bribe from 2 firms, ACB FIR claims

ACB files case against him and another information technology department official for allegedly misusing their positions

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The operation to bust the gang, dubbed Operation Shutterdown by Jhalawar police, has led to the arrests of six people.

For nearly six years, the wife of a senior Rajasthan government official allegedly earned Rs 1.6 lakh a month and received regular performance appraisals. That is, until investigators found that though she was “employed” by two companies, there was allegedly no proof of actual work, and the payments were kickbacks for her husband.

The Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed a case against two senior information technology department officials for allegedly misusing their positions and taking bribes through the fake employment scheme involving one official’s wife. The officials are alleged to have made at least Rs 90 lakh in kickbacks.

The FIR, based on a complaint by advocate T N Sharma, accuses Pradyuman Dixit, joint director in the Department of Information Technology and Communication, and Rakesh Kumar Kamlesh, the department’s former ACP (Deputy Director), of using their positions to favour two private firms in processing tenders.

In return, the firms allegedly appointed Dixit’s wife, Poonam Dixit, on paper and paid her a salary regularly, even though she never attended office or did any work, the FIR states. Dixit is also the Joint Director of RajComp Info Services Limited.

The case surfaced after Sharma filed a complaint in the Rajasthan High Court, Jaipur, leading the court to order verification of the allegations. Based on the findings, a preliminary inquiry was registered by the ACB.

During the probe, several bank accounts linked to Mrs Dixit’s PAN were traced. Investigators allegedly found that some accounts were joint with Mr Dixit, while others were opened under aliases. Witness statements and financial records were collected from the two private firms, officials said.

The FIR accuses Dixit of “systematically misusing” his position to take kickbacks in his wife’s name, disguised as salary and consultancy fees.

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The investigation also allegedly revealed the role of Rakesh Kumar Kamlesh, initially appointed as a programmer in 2013 and promoted to Deputy Director (ACP) in 2021–2022. He, along with Dixit, allegedly issued and approved false Monthly Performance Reports (MPRs) for Poonam between 2019 and 2020 without attendance or proof of work. When questioned, both officers failed to justify their actions or produce relevant documents, it is alleged.

Evidence from company records, bank statements, and departmental files allegedly confirmed that Poonam was shown as employed in two companies simultaneously and also claimed freelance work during that period, though no verifiable work was found.

Following detailed scrutiny, the ACB registered an FIR under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), along with sections of the Indian Penal Code, on October 17, 2025, in Jaipur.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Deputy Superintendent of Police Neeraj Gurnani, the investigating officer, said: “I have been made the investigating officer of this case and I am currently analysing the papers and the data that have been provided regarding this. The investigation is going on, so it will be better to comment on any findings after some time.”

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Calls and texts to Pradyuman Dixit and the two firms went unanswered.

Parul Kulshrestha

Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions. Expertise and Experience Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public. Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas: Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight. Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women. Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use. Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More

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