Constable caught taking bribe; ACB launches manhunt for inspector

Officials of the Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a constable and booked a police inspector of the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from the complainant for going slow on the case, wherein complainant's father and his partner were arrested by the EOW.

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The accused have been identified as Constable Vijay Mandhare and Police Inspector Balasaheb Koli. ACB officials said Mandhare took the money from Ananda Patil near Sancheti hospital yesterday afternoon.

"Our prime suspect Koli is at large and we have formed two teams to arrest him," ACB Deputy Superintendent of Police B S kale said. u00a0He said a case of cheating was registered against Patil's father Vilas and his business partner Nagnath Dhakale at the Nigdi police station a few months back. Both were arrested and later released on bail. The duo is into construction business.

"As the EOW was investigating the case, investigating officer Koli demanded Rs 10 lakh from the Ananda Patil to slow down the investigation process, and refrain from attaching properties of his father and Dhakale. Koli then received Rs 2.50 lakh from the complainant and kept on pestering for the remainder. This prompted Pati to approach the ACB," said Kale.

It was Mandhare whocame to collect the money at the spot where the ACB officials had laid a trap. He was nabbed red-handed and the officials and the officials recovered Rs 1lakh from his possession. But Koli disappeared as soon as he learnt about the trap. u00a0"We have formed two teams to nab him and soon he will be behind the bars,' said Kale. u00a0

PMC engineer held for taking bribe
Officials of the Anti-corruption Bureau yesterday arrested a deputy engineer from the PMC's road department for allegedly demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 7,000 from a building contractor for giving necessary permission for a residential project in Aundh. The accused was identified as Mushtaq Shaikh (50). ACB officials took action based on complaint filed by Laxman Waghmare (23).u00a0