Ahmedabad: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday trapped a Gram Sevak posted with Bijapur Taluka Panchayat in Mehsana district while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 from a complainant for facilitating the release of government housing scheme funds.

According to the ACB, the complainant had an ancestral house belonging to his forefathers, which he demolished and constructed a new house on the same site. For the construction, financial assistance of Rs 1,20,000 is provided under the Government’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Additionally, an amount of Rs 50,000 has been announced under a separate government scheme.

Out of the sanctioned amount, the third instalment of Rs 50,000 and the final instalment of Rs 10,000 were due. The accused, Ajay Singh Kanusinh Rajput, a contract-based Gram Sevak, allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 5,000 to expedite the release of these payments and other assistance.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB, following which a trap was laid. During the operation, the accused was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe amount, thereby committing an offence of criminal misconduct. Further investigation is underway. DeshGujarat