Vadodara: In a successful trap operation, the Vadodara Rural Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday booked five individuals, including two school principals, two retired teachers, and a government auditor, in a bribe case involving ₹2,000 from a group principal of a primary school in Dabhoi taluka.

The accused have been identified as Ghanshyambhai Bhupendrabhai Patel (Principal, Vasai Primary School), Budhisagar Somabhai Patel (Retired Teacher), Mahendrasinh Ganpatsinh Solanki (Principal, Khundhiyapura Primary School), Mukundbhai Babubhai Chauhan (Retired Teacher), and Jayshreeben Hirabhai Solanki (Government Auditor).

According to the complaint, ₹2,000 was being demanded from each group principal in Dabhoi taluka to avoid objections in the audit report for the year 2021–22, which was conducted in May 2025. Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB. Acting on the complaint, the agency laid a trap at the Dabhoi Taluka Primary Teachers’ Cooperative Sharaf Mandali office.

During the operation, accused Ghanshyambhai accepted ₹2,000 from the complainant and passed it on sequentially to accused Budhisagar, Mahendrasinh, and finally to Mukundbhai, who placed it on his table along with ₹14,000 reportedly brought by other principals. He also recorded the amount on a slip of paper and kept it with him. Meanwhile, Ghanshyambhai was also heard discussing the bribe money with auditor Jayshreeben Solanki, who gave her implicit consent to the transaction. All five accused were caught red-handed at the scene.

The operation was carried out under the supervision of Shri A.J. Chauhan, In-charge Police Inspector, Vadodara Rural ACB, and Shri P.H. Bhesaniya, Deputy Director, ACB Vadodara Unit. DeshGujarat