Nashik ACB Arrests Trio for Demanding Bribe in Salary Arrears Case
In a significant crackdown on corruption, officials from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Nashik have arrested three individuals, including a Block Education Officer (BEO), a primary teacher, and a clerk, on Tuesday. The arrests were made in connection with the alleged acceptance of a bribe amounting to Rs 52,000, which was demanded from a school teacher to facilitate the approval of salary arrears for him and his wife.
Details of the Bribery Scheme
The complainant and his wife, both teachers appointed under the PESA (scheduled areas) jurisdiction, were entitled to salary arrears totaling over Rs 13 lakh. These arrears had accumulated due to their single-level pay scale status, covering the period from 2002 to February 2026. The couple had submitted separate bills for these pending payments at the panchayat samiti office in Dindori, seeking final clearance from the zilla parishad (ZP) office in Nashik.
According to ACB officials, the BEO demanded a 1% cut of the total bill amount to process the paperwork and forward it to the ZP office. Simultaneously, another primary teacher allegedly requested a specific bribe to obtain hard copies of the bills from the ZP office. Additionally, a clerk was accused of encouraging the teacher to demand the bribe from the couple to expedite the submission of the bill.
Complaint and Arrests
Unwilling to comply with the corrupt demands, the couple approached the ACB and filed a formal complaint. Following this, the ACB set up a trap and successfully apprehended the three public servants. A case has been registered at the Dindori police station under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The ACB is currently conducting further investigations to uncover any additional details or potential accomplices in this matter.
This incident highlights ongoing issues with corruption in administrative processes, particularly in the education sector, where public servants exploit their positions for personal gain. The arrests serve as a reminder of the authorities' commitment to combating such malpractices and ensuring accountability among government employees.
