BHOPAL: A string of events barely two days after Satna town's inclusion in the smart city list appears to have shaken high and mighty. Mayor Mamta Pandey feels something has cast an ominous shadow on the civic body. "Jab se smart city mey naam aaaya hai najar lag gayee hai agal bagal ki. Mai iske liye pooja karwaungi (After the town's name figured in the list of smart cities, troubles began. I will get rituals performed to ward off baneful eye," Satna mayor Mamta Pandey told TOI. 

She said 'nimbu mirch' should be hanged over the gates of the civic body office. Sources say one of the office of the civic body was locked fearing vastu dosh. On June 24, Satna town was included in the list of the cities to be developed into smart cities. On June 26, civic body commissioner Surendra Kathuria was caught by the lokayukta sleuths while he was allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 12 lakh in cash and gold from a doctor couple for stopping demolition of a building that was not constructed as per the valid maps issued by the civic body. 

On June 27, more cash was seized from the office of the commissioner. On June 28, civic body workers had a spat with the doctor couple, who had complained about the commissioner, alleging that the doctor had abused them. From June 28, the sanitation workers of the civic body went on a strike, demanding an FIR against the doctor for using intemperate language.