Two senior state excise official held for accepting bribe

Two senior Maharashtra state excise department officials who allegedly demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs 18 lakh from a junior for not taking action against him were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), official sources said here today.
According to an official release issued here, the ACB's Mumbai unit officials laid a trap and nabbed Superintendent Manohar Anchule and Inspector Ramesh Dhanshetty serving the Thane unit of the state excise department.
They have been arrested and charged under Section 8, Section 13(1)(d) and Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988, the release said.
Complainant Balasaheb Patil, working as a sub inspector with the flying squad of the state excise department was trapped on January 22, by the Thane unit of the ACB for graft, the release said.

He was charged under Section 7, Section 12, Section 13(1)(d) and Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988.
An offence has been registered against him and departmental action as well as suspension is expected soon.

In order to avoid his suspension and to transfer him elsewhere, the two officers had alleged demanded Rs 18 lakh to be given to higher-ups, the complaint said.
Accordingly ACB officials laid a trap today and nabbed them while accepting the money from the complainant, the release said.
Residences of the two officers are being searched by ACB officials, the release said.