Maharashtra: ACB nabs two for demanding bribe from power consumer in Palghar

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The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a senior technician of state-run power distributor Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) and a middleman for demanding and accepting a bribe from a power consumer in Maharashtra's Palghar district, an official said on Thursday, reported the PTI.

Technician Gopal Paliwal disconnected the power supply of the complainant's home on July 31 but the latter reconnected it on his own, said Dayanand Gawade, deputy superintendent of police (ACB-Palghar) in a statement, according to the PTI.

After learning about the reconnection of the supply line, Paliwal demanded Rs 10,000 from the complainant for not taking action against him for theft of power from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited. He brought down the amount to Rs 8,000 after negotiation.

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After being alerted by the complainant, ACB laid a trap on Wednesday and caught a middleman named Hemant Churi accepting Rs 7,000 of the bribe allegedly on behalf of Paliwal, who too was arrested later, said the anti-graft agency.

Meanwhile, in an another incident, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested two employees of state-run power distributor MSEDCL for allegedly accepting a bribe from a fellow staffer in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official said on Thursday, according to the PTI.

Technician Vijay Umre and senior clerk Kishore Chorghe allegedly demanded Rs 20,000 from another employee of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) over posting, the official told the PTI.

The aggrieved employee approached the ACB who laid a trap and caught the technician while accepting Rs 10,000, the negotiated amount, on behalf of the senior clerk on Wednesday, said inspector Nitin Thorat of ACB's Thane unit.

The two accused were later arrested under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the official said.

Meanwhile, in an another incident last month, the Anti-Corruption Bureau had apprehended a woman medical officer of a public health centre (PHC) in Maharashtra's Thane district for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 11,000 from a staff member, the ACB had earlier said.

The accused had allegedly asked the staff member to generate fabricated medical bills of Rs 22,000 out of the funds sanctioned by the government for the public health centre located in Shahapur area in Maharashtra, and give her 50 per cent of the amount, the ACB had said in an official statement.

(with PTI inputs)