Chhotaudepur: The Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday caught Harshvardhan Kashiram Patel (35), Additional Assistant Engineer in the Construction Branch of the Kawant Taluka Panchayat, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs. 11,500.

According to the ACB, the complainant had completed two development works approved under the MLA grant in 2025 at his own expense. Of these, a protective wall sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 2.50 lakh was completed for approximately Rs. 2.30 lakh. In addition, a Mazdoor Kalyan Kendra Hall near the village was sanctioned under the MLA grant for Rs. 5 lakh, and that work was also completed by the complainant at his own expense.

For approving the bills of these two works, the accused Additional Assistant Engineer allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs. 37,000, calculated at five percent of the total bill amount. Following negotiations, the amount was reduced to Rs. 35,000.

However, as the complainant did not want to pay the bribe, he approached the ACB and lodged a complaint. Based on the complaint, the ACB laid a trap. During the operation, the accused allegedly demanded Rs. 11,500 as the first installment of the bribe. As soon as he accepted the amount, the ACB team caught him red-handed. The bribe amount of Rs. 11,500 was also recovered.