In a shocking case of corruption within an educational institution, a watchman was apprehended by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Ahmedabad on Wednesday for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 3 lakh on behalf of a college trustee.
ACB Trap Nabs Middleman on Campus
The operation unfolded at the Ved Shri MM Patel College of Education campus in the Gulbai Tekra area. The ACB set a trap outside the trustee's office after a formal complaint. The accused were identified as Timir Amin, a trustee of the college, and Murlimanohar Zandol, a Class IV employee working as a watchman at the same institution.
Retired Principal's Ordeal and the Bribe Demand
The complainant in this case is the retired in-charge principal of the college. His pension, general provident fund, and leave encashment files required signatures and clearance from the trust. According to the ACB, trustee Timir Amin had initially demanded a hefty sum of Rs 5 lakh for signing the necessary documents. He had already allegedly received Rs 2 lakh earlier and was pressing for the remaining Rs 3 lakh, forcing the retiree to approach the authorities.
During the ACB's sting operation, the watchman, Murlimanohar Zandol, acted as the conduit. He held purposeful conversations with the complainant and accepted the Rs 3 lakh cash on behalf of the trustee. The money was recovered from Zandol on the spot immediately after the transaction.
Trustee Flees, Case Registered Under Corruption Act
While the watchman was caught red-handed, trustee Timir Amin managed to flee the scene. The ACB stated that both accused acted in collusion, with the watchman serving as the trustee's agent to collect the illicit payment. A case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and further investigation is underway. Authorities are working to trace the absconding trustee and are examining relevant financial records.
Sources within the education department indicated that such corrupt practices are not isolated incidents. There have been troubling reports of demands for bribes to clear pay scales, pensions, and other post-retirement benefits in various institutions, highlighting a systemic issue.
