ACB Gujarat nabs Deputy Sarpanch, Taluka Panchayat member in bribery case

Surat: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Gujarat today nabbed Deputy Sarpanch of Patal Gram Panchayat and a Taluka Panchayat member from Mandvi Taluka in a bribery case involving Rs. 35,000.

According to the details of the case, the complainant owned a piece of agricultural land in Patal village of Mandvi Taluka that required leveling. The complainant met with Bhupendrabhai Gameet, Deputy Sarpanch of Patal Gram Panchayat, and Shankarbhai Chowdhury, a member of Mandvi Taluka Panchayat, to get a resolution passed in the Gram Panchayat for leveling the land. Initially, both accused demanded a bribe of Rs. 1,50,000. However, after negotiations, the bribe amount was reduced to Rs. 80,000, which was to be paid upon passing of the resolution. The first installment of the bribe was Rs. 35,000, which the plaintiff was unwilling to pay. Subsequently, he contacted the ACB and filed a complaint.

Based on the complaint, the ACB organized a bribery trap. Accused Shankarbhai Chowdhury, after a discussion with Bhupendrabhai Gameet, accepted the bribe amount of Rs. 35,000 from the complainant, and both were caught red handed and detained. DeshGujarat