Former SMC Engineer Gets 3-Year Jail Term in Rs 20,000 Bribery Case

Surat: A special court hearing Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) cases on Saturday sentenced a former Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) junior engineer to three years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh for demanding and accepting a Rs 20,000 bribe.

Rati Zaveri, who was posted as a junior engineer in SMC’s Katargam zone, was convicted in connection with a bribery case dating back to 2011. He was caught by the ACB while accepting money from a complainant.

According to case records, Zaveri had visited the complainant’s grocery shop and alleged that the building had been illegally constructed on a reserved plot. He threatened demolition, while the complainant maintained that the property had been built with valid permissions and supporting documents.

When the complainant requested him not to initiate demolition proceedings, Zaveri allegedly demanded Rs 20,000 to prevent action against the structure.

The prosecution told the court that the complainant initially paid Rs 11,000 and subsequently made payments in smaller amounts. However, Zaveri continued to demand the remaining Rs 7,000, prompting the complainant to approach the ACB and lodge a complaint.

The ACB subsequently laid a trap and caught Zaveri red-handed while he was collecting the remaining Rs 7,000, investigators said.

During the trial, the prosecution presented witness testimonies and documentary evidence to substantiate the charges. After examining the evidence and hearing arguments from both sides, the court found Zaveri guilty and awarded him a three-year jail term along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh. DeshGujarat