The Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Pune arrested a senior geologist and a junior geologist from the Groundwater Survey Development Agency on Friday for accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from a builder. The bribe was demanded to provide a groundwater survey report required for the builder's project completion certificate.
Details of the Arrest
The ACB team, led by Inspector Suhad Hattekar, laid a trap at the Groundwater Survey Development Agency office in Shivajinagar. Junior geologist Priyanka Ghule was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe on behalf of senior geologist Diwakar Dhote. Both Ghule and Dhote have been arrested in connection with the case.
Background of the Case
According to an ACB officer, the complainant is a builder who had applied for a completion certificate for his project with the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA). The PMRDA directed him to submit a groundwater survey report. Subsequently, the builder approached the Groundwater Survey Development Agency and applied for the report.
Ghule allegedly demanded Rs 2.5 lakh on behalf of Dhote to issue the report. On April 22, the complainant met Dhote at his office, where Dhote agreed to accept Rs 2 lakh instead of the initially demanded amount. The ACB laid a trap on Friday and arrested both individuals on charges of accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh.
Legal Proceedings
The arrested geologists have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Further investigation is underway to determine if any other officials were involved in the corrupt practice.
