Palghar : The nexus between the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) and illegal construction mafia stands exposed again as an assistant commissioner was caught red-handed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau accepting bribe to save an illegal construction in Nalasopara.
Assistant commissioner Jitendra Chaudhary (47), Pravin Mhapralkar (48), an ex-corporator from Nalasopara and his aide Arvind Todankar (53) were caught red-handed by the Thane Anti Corruption Unit while accepting a bribe of Rs 3.50 lakh to protect an illegal construction in Nalasopara.
The complainant, developer Arun Singh, was frustrated by the regular harassment he was exposed to by the accused and had approached Thane ACB unit. To avoid the demolition of his two illegal buildings, the three had approached him and demanded Rs 30 lakh of which the complainant had paid Rs 5.50 lakh. Further, he was constantly harassed and threatened for the remaining amount and which he could not handle and approached the ACB which laid a trap and arrested the three accused after catching them red handed.
Dattatray Karale, Superintendent of Police, Thane ACB, said, “Singh had approached us a week back after he had paid Rs 5.50 lakh to the accused and they decided to collect the amount of Rs 3.50 lakh. We laid a trap and caught them red-handed post we received the complaint. We have arrested them and will produce them in court and are investigating further.”
Vishal Rajemahadik
