ACB arrests duo for offering a bribe to talathi

In a reverse trap, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today arrested a farmer and sand transporter for allegedly offering Rs 60,000 as bribe to a talathi (village level revenue officer) to avoid action against them in an illegal sand mining case.
According to ACB officials, such cases are quite rare, where the officer that too from revenue department, has, in reverse, approached ACB after being offered bribe by the accused.
Additional superintendent of police (ACB) Prasad Hasabnis said the complainant in this matter is a talathi of Burkegaon in Haveli tehsil of Pune district.
He said that the complainant had recently submitted a report against farmer Dhondiba Waghmode and sand transporter Tukaram Pawale, residents of Burkegaon after he came across that they were involved in illegal sand mining in Waghmode's farmland.

"In order to avoid any legal action against them, Pawale, on the behest of Waghmode, offered a bribe of Rs 60,000 to the complainant.
"Complainant then approached ACB office in Pune and subsequently a trap was laid at talathi office today and Pawale was caught red-handed while giving Rs 60,000 to the complainant," said Hasabnis.
He added that it was revealed that Pawale offered the bribe money today at the behest of Waghmode.
"Both have been arrested under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act," he said.