Vadodara: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) achieved a major success on Wednesday by trapping a middleman red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹2.5 lakh in Vadodara.

According to ACB officials, the complainant, a vigilant citizen, had approached the bureau alleging a demand for illegal gratification in connection with a police complaint. The accused has been identified as Sureshbhai Ramchand Tolani, a resident of B/40, Gokulnagar Siddhi Society, Makarpura Road, Vadodara.

As per details, construction activity was allegedly being carried out by an unknown builder on land bearing Survey No. 329 in Varsiya area, Vadodara, belonging to the complainant’s maternal relatives. The complainant had submitted applications to the Varsiya Police Station seeking action against the illegal construction.

The accused allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹5 lakh, claiming it was on behalf of the Police Inspector of Varsiya Police Station, for registering a complaint against the opposing party. It was decided that ₹2.5 lakh would be paid before filing the complaint and the remaining amount after the complaint was registered.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB, following which a trap was laid. On December 25, 2025, during a planned operation, the accused held a conversation with the complainant regarding the bribe and accepted ₹2.5 lakh at Anubhav Enterprise shop in Chokhandi area of Vadodara. The ACB team immediately caught him red-handed with the tainted cash.

The entire bribe amount of ₹2.5 lakh was recovered from the accused. Further legal proceedings are underway.

The trap was carried out under the leadership of Police Inspector Mrs. V.D. Chaudhary of Ahmedabad City ACB Police Station along with the ACB team. The operation was supervised by D.N. Patel, In-charge Additional Director, ACB Ahmedabad Unit, while overall charge was held by Deputy Director Haresh Mewada, Ahmedabad.

The ACB has reiterated its appeal to citizens to report any instances of corruption and assured strict action against those demanding or accepting bribes.