Damoh Collector Exposes Alleged Office Espionage Ring, Staff Suspended

Damoh Collector Pratap Narayan Yadav has uncovered an alleged espionage ring operating from within his office, leading to the immediate suspension and removal of three staff members over charges of unauthorized eavesdropping on confidential administrative discussions. The breach was detected after details of a surprise inspection were leaked minutes after being discussed behind closed doors in the Collector's chamber.

Investigations revealed that staff in the adjacent Personal Assistant's room used telephone receivers to intercept conversations, meetings, and phone calls in the Collector's office, potentially relaying sensitive information to external parties. Collector Yadav confirmed the leak after playing a loud news broadcast in his chamber and later hearing the same audio in the adjoining staff area, indicating real-time audio transmission.

Assistant Grade-3 Sachin Khare has been suspended, Clerk Ajay Kumar Asati has been sent back to the Education Department, and office attendant Jaydev Ahirwar has been removed from duty. The seized telephone equipment is being sent for forensic analysis to determine the extent and duration of the surveillance, which officials suspect may have been ongoing for years.

The incident has triggered concerns over administrative security in district-level offices, with state authorities expected to review communication protocols. The forensic report will guide further disciplinary and legal action, officials said.