Woman Sarpanch, gram sevak in ACB trap for accepting bribe in Maharashtra

A woman Sarpanch and a gram sevak from Chahand village in Ralegaon tehsil were caught by ACB sleuths for accepting a bribe of Rs 4,000.

Yavatmal: A woman Sarpanch and a gram sevak from Chahand village in Ralegaon tehsil here were caught by ACB sleuths for accepting a bribe of Rs 4,000 from one of the beneficiaries of a government-sponsored lavatory scheme.

 The accused duo--Savita Sunil Thamke (30) and gram sevak Padmakar Champatrao Dod (52)--were apprehended last evening after ACB laid a trap to nab them.

 According to Dy SP (ACB) Satish Deshmukh, he received a complaint on October 26 from one of the beneficiaries of the lavatory scheme in the village alleging that the Sarpanch demanded a bribe of Rs 1,000 for issuing a cheque of Rs 12,000 as a government grant sanctioned to him from Ralegaon branch of Yavatmal District Central Co-Operative Bank.

 The victim agreed to the bribe payment but later lodged a complaint with ACB Yavatmal.

 A trap was laid yesterday and currency notes laden with powder were sent to the gram sevak as directed by the Sarpanch through the complainant.

 However, the gram sevak demanded another Rs 3,000 for handing over the cheque following which he was caught red handed while accepting Rs 4,000 in total from the complainant at a cafe in front of Ralegoan bus stand.

 On interrogation, Padmakar admitted that the sum of Rs 4,000 was to be shared with the Sarpanch.