Two foresters held accepting Rs 19,500 bribe

Two senior officers of the forest department in Satara district were today arrested while accepting a bribe of Rs 19,500 from a contractor for releasing his payments, an Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) official said.
Range forest officer Rajendra Patil (31) and another officer Sudam Mane (54), were caught red handed at their office in Koyna Nagar, Satara, the official said.
The complainant had done nullah construction work in Koyna wild life sanctuary.
"However, both the officers had demanded Rs 25,000 from the contractor after they released his bill payment for the work executed," the official said.
The contractor had expressed inability to give the amount demanded by them, but agreed to offer Rs 19,500. However, he approached the Satara unit of ACB and lodged a complaint against the officers.

"This morning, a trap was laid at their office and both of them were arrested while accepting the bribe," he said.