Mumbai: The Anti-Corruption Bureau’s (ACB) Mumbai unit has arrested a cooperative officer at the Deputy Registrar Cooperative Housing Societies for demanding Rs 4 lakh to register the complaint of a society’s treasurer.
About The Case
The complainant had approached the Deputy Registrar’s office in Bandra (E) regarding his housing society not working as per law. To take action on the complaint, the officer, Vikas Korde, allegedly demanded a bribe.
According to the ACB, the complainant had enquired with the secretary of his housing society about alleged unauthorised work, following which he was removed from the post of treasurer. He then filed a complaint with the Deputy Registrar’s office regarding his removal from the managing committee, the appointment of new members, and the cancellation of the said committee.
The Deputy Registrar’s office then passed an order for the reinstatement of the complainant in the committee. However, no action was taken against the secretary of the housing society. When the complainant revisited the office with regard to the matter, Korde allegedly asked for Rs 4 lakh to initiate action.
The complainant decided to approach the ACB and filed a written complaint on April 24. Four days later, the ACB verified the demand for a bribe, with Rs 2 lakh as the first instalment. During the entrapment operation conducted on Monday, Korde was caught red-handed by an ACB team while accepting the first instalment, following which a case was registered under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
