Gandhinagar Official Arrested for Rs 9.5 Lakh Bribe Demand in Property Card Case
In a significant anti-corruption operation, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a deputy mamlatdar posted at the Gandhinagar collector's office on Friday. The arrest followed allegations of a substantial bribe demand amounting to Rs 9.5 lakh related to a property card application.
Details of the Arrest and Accused
The primary accused, identified as Bipinchandra Parmar, is a Class III employee working in the land allotment branch of the collector's office. According to ACB officials, Parmar was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting Rs 4.5 lakh as the first instalment of the demanded bribe. In a related development, Dinesh Valand, a retired peon, was also arrested in connection with the same case.
Origin of the Case and Allegations
The case originated from a formal complaint filed by a citizen who had applied for a property card for an individual's house at the collectorate's land allotment office. Investigators revealed that Parmar allegedly solicited money in exchange for providing a favourable opinion on the file and for agreeing not to raise objections regarding deficiencies in the submitted documents.
Acting on Parmar's instructions, Valand is accused of demanding the total sum of Rs 9.5 lakh from the complainant, with an initial payment set at Rs 4.5 lakh. After receiving the complaint, the ACB swiftly organized a trap operation on Friday to apprehend the suspects.
The Trap Operation and Recovery
During the meticulously planned operation, the accused engaged in discussions with the complainant and proceeded to accept the Rs 4.5 lakh payment. The trap was executed near the Gandhinagar court parking area, where the money was handed over inside the complainant's vehicle parked by the roadside.
ACB officials confirmed that the entire amount of Rs 4.5 lakh was successfully recovered during the operation. Both Parmar and Valand were detained on the spot immediately after the transaction was completed. The swift action by the ACB highlights ongoing efforts to combat corruption in government offices, particularly in processes involving property documentation and land allotment.
This incident underscores the persistent challenges of graft in administrative procedures and the critical role of vigilant citizens and law enforcement agencies in exposing such malpractices. The ACB's intervention in this case serves as a stern warning against corrupt practices within public offices.
