Amreli, Aug 21 (IANS) An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) attached to Savarkundla Rural Police Station in Gujarat’s Amreli district was caught by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) while allegedly accepting a Rs 5,000 bribe from an individual who had approached the agency after being pressured to resume an illegal country liquor business.
The accused was identified as 39-year-old Shyam Bagda, an ASI posted at Savarkundla Rural Police Station.
The trap was conducted on Thursday based on a complaint received by the Amreli ACB. According to the ACB, the complainant had previously been involved in the sale of country liquor but had stopped the activity.
The ASI allegedly pressured him to restart the business and threatened to implicate him in false cases if he refused.
“The officer allegedly demanded Rs 10,000 from the complainant in exchange for allowing him to restart the liquor trade. Following negotiations, the amount was reduced to Rs 5,000,” the ACB said.
Unwilling to pay the money, the complainant contacted the ACB through its toll-free number, 1064, and subsequently lodged a complaint at the Amreli ACB Police Station.
Acting on the complaint, the bureau arranged a trap on August 20. During the operation, the accused allegedly demanded and accepted Rs 5,000 from the complainant.
ACB officials then caught him at the spot while he was allegedly accepting the bribe.
The trap was conducted near the entrance to a farm belonging to Javerbhai Patel, on an unpaved road leading towards Nesdi, within the limits of Oliyā village in Savarkundla taluka of Amreli district.
The ACB said the Rs 5,000 allegedly accepted by the accused was recovered during the operation.
It further alleged that Bagda had misused his official position in connection with the demand and acceptance of the bribe.
“The trap was led by T.S. Rizvi, in-charge police inspector at the Amreli ACB Police Station, along with ACB personnel,” officials added.
–IANS
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