Mumbai, Feb 12: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) junior engineer and a mukadam for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe to initiate demolition proceedings against an unauthorised structure in Bandra’s Kherwadi area.
Alleged demand for Rs 2 lakh
According to ACB officials, the complainant owns a plot in Kherwadi, Bandra (East), on which an unauthorised structure had allegedly been erected. Seeking removal of the illegal construction, he had formally approached the H/East ward office of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and submitted an application requesting demolition action as per due procedure.
Officials said junior engineer Rupesh Kothare and mukadam Kuttappa Kadar were assigned to carry out the demolition of the unauthorised structure. During the course of the process, the duo allegedly demanded Rs 2 lakh from the complainant as illegal gratification to initiate and complete the action and had already accepted Rs 1.5 lakh from the complainant.
They allegedly told the complainant that the demolition would not be carried out unless the remaining Rs 50,000 was paid.
Complaint and verification
Unwilling to pay the balance amount, the complainant approached the Mumbai ACB on January 9, 2025, and lodged a complaint.
During verification conducted on April 3, 2025, the accused officials allegedly admitted to having received part of the money earlier and reiterated their demand for the remaining Rs 50,000 to proceed with the demolition, thereby attempting to obtain undue advantage.
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Case registered under Prevention of Corruption Act
Following the verification, the ACB registered an offence against the two under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
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