The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Nashik has made a significant arrest, taking into custody a senior education officer for allegedly demanding a hefty bribe from a group of teachers seeking pension benefits. The accused, identified as Chandrakant Patil (41), held the dual positions of Deputy Education Officer (Primary) of Zilla Parishad, Dhule, and Administrative Officer of the Education Department at Malegaon Municipal Corporation.
The Alleged Bribe Demand and Complaint
According to ACB officials, the case revolves around a group of 20 teachers who were employed with the education department prior to 2005. Following a state government decision that teachers recruited before October 2005 would be eligible for a pension scheme, these educators submitted their applications in February 2024. Their requests required approval from the administrative officer of the education department, which was Patil's role in Malegaon.
The teachers approached the ACB in August 2024 with a formal complaint. They alleged that Patil was demanding a bribe of Rs 10,000 from each applicant, totaling Rs 2 lakh, to sanction their pension applications. Deputy Superintendent of ACB, Suresh Shirsath, stated that the bureau verified this illicit demand on two separate occasions, in August and again in November.
Repeated Evasion and Eventual Arrest
The ACB's investigation revealed a pattern of evasion by the accused officer. "The ACB laid traps a couple of times, but the officer evaded them," explained Shirsath. The teachers had even arranged the funds as demanded, but multiple attempts to deliver the bribe money and catch Patil red-handed were unsuccessful due to his cautious avoidance.
Finally, after persistent efforts, a formal complaint was registered at the Pawarwadi police station in Malegaon under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. This legal action paved the way for Patil's arrest on Sunday. Following his arrest, the court has remanded Chandrakant Patil to police custody for three days for further interrogation.
Ensuring Justice for Complainants
An important aspect highlighted by the ACB is its mandate to ensure that justice is served to the complainants beyond just the arrest. The officer confirmed that after taking action against the accused, the ACB will actively monitor the pending applications. "The ACB will monitor the applications and get them approved on the basis of merit," Shirsath assured. This step is crucial to ensure that the teachers' legitimate requests for pension benefits are processed fairly and without further obstruction, now that the alleged corrupt official has been removed from the equation.
This case underscores the challenges faced by government employees in accessing their rightful benefits and the persistent issue of corruption at administrative levels. The ACB's intervention aims to not only punish the accused but also to rectify the administrative blockage he allegedly created.
