Anand: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Gujarat on Friday nabbed a ‘Talati cum Mantri’ of Simrada Gram Panchayat and his accomplice in a bribery case involving Rs. 20,000 in the Petlad taluka here.

As per the details of the case, the complainant had been leasing the pond owned by Seemarda Gram Panchayat for fish farming by paying an annual rent of Rs. 60,000 from 01/07/2020 to 10/06/2025 to the Assistant Fisheries Director in Anand. Seemarda Gram Panchayat had resolved to deepen the pond for drainage purposes, waiving the entire rent for the year 2022-23, and reducing the rent for the next two years to Rs. 20,000 instead of Rs. 60,000. However, the pond deepening operation was delayed, and the complainant continued fishing as usual.

As a result, only Rs. 20,000 was paid instead of the original rent Rs. 60,000 for the next two years, which prompted accused Hitesh Jayantilal Darji (49), working as Talati Cum Mantri, to demand an additional Rs. 30,000 from the complainant as a bribe. Since the complainant was not willing to pay the bribe, they contacted the ACB Police station in Anand. Subsequently, accused Subhashbhai Surendrabhai Patel, after talking to the complainant, was caught receiving the bribe during a trap set up. Both accused individuals have been detained by the ACB, and further actions are being pursued. DeshGujarat