Vapi: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Gujarat has arrested two Class-I and Class-II officers in a bribery trap in the southernmost industrial town of Vapi. The officers, who were working in the central government as Provident Fund Commissioner and Enforcement Officer, have been identified as Harshadkumar Parmar (Class-I) and Suprabhat Ranjan Tomar (Class-II). The trap was set up in the Snehdip Complex near Gunjan Char Rasta in Vapi.

According to the ACB, a builder operating a private construction company had failed to deduct Provident Fund (PF) from his employees’ salaries. His company had received a notice from the PF office concerning this issue, and the case was ongoing at the Vapi-based PF office. In an attempt to quickly resolve the case and reduce the associated fine, Harshad Lakhujibhai Parmar and Suprabhat Ranjan Avnendranathsingh Tomar demanded a bribe of Rs. 5 lakh.

ACB Gujarat nabs Class-one and Class-two officers of Central govt in a bribe trap https://t.co/iZhpCP753r pic.twitter.com/j1LSnIUt5R

— DeshGujarat (@DeshGujarat) September 9, 2024

When the builder refused to pay the bribe, he contacted an ACB official. Subsequently, a trap was arranged. Acting on the instructions of PF Commissioner Harshad Parmar, Enforcement Officer Suprabhat Ranjan Tomar received the Rs. 5 lakh bribe. The ACB team then apprehended both accused individuals and seized the bribe money.