Surat: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested the sarpanch of Karjun, a remote tribal village in Kaprada taluka of Valsad, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 48,000 from a road contractor. The accused Bharat Raut had initially demanded Rs 70,000, but after negotiations agreed upon Rs 48,000.
Raut had allegedly demanded money from a road contractor to release payment for the road construction in his village.
An ACB official said that Raut was nabbed from open ground outside Rain Basera Hotel on Kaprada-Nashik road.
During investigation, it was found that the road contractor had completed the road carpeting work in Karjun village and imposed a bill of Rs 4.88 lakh.
“The accused was not releasing the payment and was demanding Rs 70,000. But the complainant refused to pay the bribe and approached us,” said an ACB official.
DM Vasava, Inspector of Police, Valsad-Dang ACB laid the trap under the supervision of AK Chauhan, Assistant Director in-charge, ACB, Surat. Raut has been the sarpanch of the village for more than four years. This is his first term as village head. ACB has also started investigation to assess Raut’s assets and income.
FacebookTwitterLinkedinE-mail
.