The Palghar Unit of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday arrested two police constables and another person for allegedly accepting a Rs 50,000 bribe for releasing trucks belonging to a stone gravel trader in Palghar district.
The constables Datta Shinde and Shriram Dakhure, were deputed to the district collector's flying squad, while another accused Trunal Dhanu works as a private driver.
According to the ACB, the complainant in the case is into the partnership business of transportation of stone gravel. In his complaint, the complainant has stated that two of his trucks were illegally intercepted at Shirsad Naka by Police Constables Datta Shinde and Shriram Dakhure.
The complainant further alleged that the constables demanded a bribe of Rs 2 lakh (Rs 1 lakh per vehicle) for not taking action for violation of royalty and confiscation of the vehicle. As the complainant did not want to pay the bribe, he contacted Palghar ACB office over the phone on Monday and complained against the police constables.
Pursuant to the said complaint, the acb officials on Tuesday carried out verification of the allegations made by the complainant after which the officials found both police constables and Trunal Dhanu at the spot. The verification also revealed that the accused persons had demanded Rs 50,000 from the complainant for not taking action for violation of royalty and confiscation of the vehicle.
In a trap operation conducted on Tuesday at 02:38 AM, Police Constables Datta Shinde and Shriram Dakhure were held while accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 through the third accused, the ACB stated. An FIR was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act and further investigation is underway.
