Surat: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered an offence following a trap operation against a Class I officer of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) and a local ‘journalist’ in connection with an alleged ₹15 lakh bribery demand.

The accused have been identified as Vipul Shashikantbhai Ganeshwala, Executive Engineer (Class I), Limbayat Zone, SMC, and Mohammed Ismail alias Parwana Jamilkhan Pathan, associated with the daily newspaper Nispak Gujarat Patrika.

According to the ACB, the complainant is the owner of Santosh Sub-Industrial Plot Nos. 134–135, where construction activity was underway. An SMC official had issued a prohibition notice on November 10, 2025. Subsequently, on February 13, 2026, another notice was pasted at the construction site and demolition proceedings were initiated. An amount of ₹1.70 lakh was reportedly collected as demolition charges before the work was halted at short notice.

During this period, Pathan allegedly approached the complainant on multiple occasions, claiming proximity to the executive engineer and negotiating a bribe to prevent further demolition. Initially, a demand of ₹21 lakh was allegedly discussed. Later, following telephonic communication with the executive engineer, the demand was reduced to ₹15 lakh, with ₹4 lakh to be paid on February 19, 2026, and the remaining ₹11 lakh to be paid later.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the Surat City ACB and lodged a formal complaint.

Based on the complaint, the ACB laid a trap at the office premises of Nispak Gujarat Patrika, located at 104, Shantinagar, Anjana Industries, Raghukul Market, near Salabatpura in Surat. During the operation on February 19, Pathan allegedly accepted ₹4 lakh as the first instalment of the bribe. However, upon sensing suspicion, he fled from the spot with the cash. The bribe amount could not be recovered at the scene.

The ACB stated that the executive engineer was not present at the time of the trap. He is alleged to have misused his official position and conspired with the co-accused to commit criminal misconduct. Further investigation is underway. DeshGujarat