RTO officer, private person held for accepting Rs 23,000

An assistant regional transport officer (ARTO) attached to the Panvel RTO and a private person were arrested by the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) while allegedly accepting an amount of Rs 23000 from a complainant, official said.
The accused had demanded Rs 25,000 as bribe to issue a new RC Book and fitness certificate to the complainant. However, the bribe amount was later negotiated to Rs 23,000.
Complainant later contacted ACB and the anti-corruption sleuths after verifying the complaint, laid a trap and arrested the duo today, ACB official said.
The ARTO has been identifed as Suresh Nikam (38) and the private person as Sachin Bhosale (34).

Offences under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the duo with Panvel police station, a ACB release quoting Dy Superintendent of Police (Thane) Rajesh Bagalkote said.