In a significant crackdown on corruption, the Navi Mumbai Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has apprehended two government officials for allegedly demanding and accepting a hefty bribe from a real estate developer. The arrested individuals are a Deputy Superintendent from the Land Records department and a land surveyor, caught in a meticulously planned trap.
The Bribe Demand and Complaint
The case revolves around a plot of land within the high-profile Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA). According to officials, the complainant, a 27-year-old representative of a developer, was authorized to handle the official work for plot number 27 in NAINA Town Planning Scheme (TPS-1). After the land was surveyed on December 5 by surveyor Kalimuddin Riyazuddin Shaikh, the complainant applied for the necessary measurement certificate.
Deputy Superintendent Dilip Tulshiram Bagule (55), the Land Records officer for NAINA, initially demanded a bribe of Rs 2 lakhs to issue the certificate. Shockingly, this demand was later escalated to a staggering Rs 9 lakhs. Fed up with the extortion, the developer's staff filed a formal complaint with the Navi Mumbai ACB on December 15.
The ACB Trap and Red-Handed Arrest
After verifying the complaint, the ACB team, led by Dy SP Dharmaraj Sonke, confirmed that Bagule had settled on a final bribe amount of Rs 6 lakhs after negotiation. It was alleged that surveyor Kalimuddin Riyazuddin Shaikh (37) actively encouraged the complainant to pay the bribe.
Acting swiftly, the ACB laid a trap on December 16. The exchange was set to occur in the parking lot of CBD-Belapur railway station. Shaikh was caught red-handed inside the complainant's parked car while accepting the marked cash of Rs 6 lakhs in the presence of government witnesses. Notably, Bagule was also present at the parking lot during the transaction. Both accused were immediately detained.
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
Following the successful trap, an FIR was registered against both officials at the CBD-Belapur police station. They were booked under relevant sections of The Prevention of Corruption Act and placed under arrest. The ACB has also seized their mobile phones for a detailed technical examination to gather further evidence in the case.
The arrested accused have been identified as:
- Dilip Tulshiram Bagule (55): A Class-2 officer serving as Deputy Superintendent of Land Records for NAINA, residing in Badlapur.
- Kalimuddin Riyazuddin Shaikh (37): A Class-3 officer working as a land surveyor, residing in Kamothe.
This arrest highlights the ongoing vigilance of the ACB against corrupt practices within government departments, especially those involved in land and revenue administration in crucial development zones like NAINA.
