The Mumbai Unit of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Sunil Hari Bharmbe, sub engineer (maintenance) with additional charge of Assistant engineer, BMC A Ward, while accepting a bribe of ₹2 lakh. Bharmbe had demanded the bribe in return for not demolishing an illegal construction inside a cafe.
According to the information received from ACB, the complainant owns the La Fume Cafe and Hookah Parlor in Churchgate. On April 26, two employees of BMC A Ward visited the cafe and asked the shop owner to meet Bharmbe in his office, the complaint said.
Accused demanded ₹5 lakh bribe
Accordingly, the shop owner went to Bharmbe's office to meet him. Bharmbe then demanded ₹5 lakh for not taking action against an illegal construction inside the cafe. When the complainant showed his inability to give that much money, Bharmbe agreed to settle the matter at ₹3 lakh.
However, the complainant approached the Mumbai unit office of ACB and filed a complaint against Bharmbe.
Caught red-handed
Bharmbe was caught red-handed by ACB officials while accepting the money near Churchgate station on Saturday.
An ACB official said that a case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 has been registered against Bharmbe.
