Mumbai ACB to Include BMC Officials in Rs 75-Lakh Bribery Case Following Court Directive
In a significant development, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Mumbai informed the Bombay High Court on Friday that it will add three Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials as co-accused in a Rs 75-lakh bribery case. This decision comes just three days after the High Court urged the agency to take appropriate action in the matter.
Background of the Corruption Case
The case originated in 2024 when two touts were apprehended while accepting Rs 75 lakh on behalf of senior executive engineer Mandar Tari. According to the complaint filed by developer Goldie Sud, the controversy began when he constructed a four-storey building in Andheri and received a notice from the K-East ward in January 2024, declaring two floors illegal.
Following this notice, the BMC partially demolished the building in February 2024. However, Sud obtained relief from the Bombay High Court on two separate occasions, with the court setting aside the demolition orders.
Allegations of Bribery and Official Involvement
In July 2024, ward officer Govind Shelke, along with other officials including Mandar Tari, conducted an inspection of the building. The very next day, when Sud went to meet the designated officer in the presence of Shelke and assistant junior engineer Digambar Sonawane, they allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 2 crore.
Sud immediately approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau, which subsequently arrested the two touts and later apprehended senior executive engineer Mandar Tari. In his formal complaint, Sud also named ward officer Manish Walunj, Digambar Sonawane, and Govind Shelke, though initially, these officials were not formally charged.
Legal Proceedings and Court Intervention
Dissatisfied with the incomplete action, Goldie Sud, represented by his lawyer Mubin Solkar, filed a petition in the Bombay High Court. The petition highlighted that Sud possessed audio recordings that allegedly demonstrated the involvement of the named BMC officials in the bribery scheme.
The court's intervention prompted the ACB to reassess the case, leading to Friday's announcement that the agency will now include ward officer Govind Shelke, assistant engineer Manish Walunj, and junior engineer Digambar Sonawane as co-accused alongside the already arrested individuals.
This move marks a crucial step in the investigation, ensuring that all allegedly involved parties face legal scrutiny. The case continues to unfold as authorities delve deeper into the corruption allegations within Mumbai's municipal administration.
