Lawyer caught while taking Rs 1.7 cr to influence land order

The Anti Corruption Bureau on Wednesday arrested a 27-year-old lawyer in Pune while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1.70 crore for obtaining a favourable ruling in a land dispute case.

The accused was identified as advocate Rohit Shende.

According to an ACB official, the complainant in the case had approached the deputy director (land records) in the revenue department claiming that some unauthorised names had been inserted on his property documents and he wanted those names removed.

"Hearing before the deputy director was pending. Shende approached the complainant and promised to influence the ruling in his favour. He demanded Rs two crore for the job," said the officer.

The complainant negotiated the amount to Rs 1.70 crore, and told the accused that he would give the money only after receiving the written order in his favour.

On Wednesday, Shende showed him the written order of the deputy director and demanded money.

The complainant had, in the meantime, approached the ACB.

"A trap was laid Wednesday evening and Shende was arrested while accepting the bribe amount," said the officer.

It was yet to be probed if the lawyer could actually influence the ruling passed by the authority, he said.

"Shende has been arrested under the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act. He will be produced before the court tomorrow," he said.