Ahmedabad: In a successful operation, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has apprehended two individuals, including a high-ranking official from the Health and Family Welfare Department, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹30,00,000, of which ₹15,00,000 was recovered at the scene.

The complainant, a vigilant citizen, had previously served as the Deputy Director (Health and Medical Services) in Bhavnagar. During their tenure, the complainant had taken disciplinary action against certain health department staff members concerning fraudulent medical practices. Subsequently, a complaint of extortion was filed against the complainant with the Commissioner of the Health Department, leading to the suspension of the complainant and a fellow doctor. The Health Department had initiated a preliminary inquiry against both doctors, with the investigating officer submitting their report in January 2025, following the completion of the inquiry in October 2024.

According to the ACB, the second accused, identified as Girishbhai Jethalal Parmar, a retired Dean of the Government Dental College, Asarwa, Ahmedabad, acted as a mediator and contacted the complainant. Girish Parmar allegedly arranged a meeting with the first accused, Dinesh Parmar, an Additional Secretary (Investigation), Class-1, in the Health and Family Welfare Department, to facilitate a favorable outcome in the ongoing preliminary inquiry against the complainant and their colleague.

During a meeting held in Gandhinagar, both accused allegedly colluded and demanded a bribe of ₹30 lakh from the complainant and the other doctor. It was agreed that ₹15 lakh would be paid as an advance, with the remaining amount to be paid after the work was done.

Subsequently, accused No. 2, Girish Parmar, allegedly made repeated phone calls to the complainant demanding the money. Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB and filed a complaint.Acting on the complaint, the ACB laid a trap today. During the operation, accused No. 2, Girishbhai Parmar, called the complainant to his residence, located at B.No. 8, Arham Society, Shahibaug, Ahmedabad, to deliver the bribe money. Parmar was caught red-handed while accepting ₹15,00,000 from the complainant after engaging in a pre-arranged conversation.

The trap operation was conducted by Shri S.N. Barot, Police Inspector, ACB, Field-3 (Intelligence), Ahmedabad, with assistance from Smt. A.K. Chauhan, Police Inspector, ACB, Field-1. The operation was supervised by Shri A.V. Patel, Assistant Director, ACB, Field-3 (Intelligence).

Further investigation into the matter is currently underway.