Threat to shut factory over pollution, then Rs 40,000 demand: Gujarat cop caught in ACB trap

Anand, Oct 23 (IANS) A police inspector posted at Anklav police station in Gujarat’s Anand district was caught by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on October 22 while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000 from a factory owner after threatening to shut down the unit over alleged pollution, according to the ACB.

The accused, Rajdeepsinh Vanar, a Class-II police inspector, had allegedly demanded a 1.5-tonne air conditioner from the complainant. When the complainant refused to provide it, the inspector allegedly demanded Rs 40,000 instead.

According to the ACB’s complaint details, the inspector had summoned the complainant to the police station and threatened to shut down his factory, alleging that it was causing pollution.

“The inspector made the demand for the air conditioner during this interaction and subsequently asked the complainant to pay Rs 40,000,” officials said.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant, identified by the ACB as a “vigilant citizen”, approached the Anand ACB police station and lodged a complaint. The bureau subsequently arranged a trap on the basis of the complaint.

During the operation on October 22, the accused allegedly engaged in a conversation with the complainant and accepted Rs 40,000 from him in his chamber at Anklav police station.

The ACB team caught him at the spot, and the entire alleged bribe amount of Rs 40,000 was recovered, the complaint details stated.

The case concerns the alleged misuse of official position by a public servant to obtain an undue advantage by threatening action against a factory. The ACB’s account states that the inspector’s conduct amounted to criminal misconduct.

The trap was led by R N Virani, police inspector at the Anand ACB police station, along with his team.

The ACB operation was carried out following the complaint by the citizen, who had declined to meet the alleged demand. The bureau frequently conducted such traps against officials who demand bribes.

–IANS

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