In a direct strike against corruption in a central government welfare scheme, officials from the Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) have arrested a computer operator for allegedly accepting a bribe from a beneficiary of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). The incident occurred in Ghoghamba town, located in the Panchmahal district.
The Bribe Demand and the Trap
The accused has been identified as Soban Bagwala, aged 33. According to ACB officials, Bagwala was caught in the act on the terrace of the Ghoghamba taluka panchayat office. He was allegedly accepting a sum of Rs 2,000 as an illegal gratification.
The bribe was demanded to process and clear the second instalment of funds for the beneficiary under the PMAY housing scheme. The entire operation was a meticulously planned trap laid by the ACB sleuths after receiving a formal complaint on their helpline. The beneficiary, who was unwilling to pay the bribe, approached the authorities instead.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Arrest
The beneficiary had already constructed his house up to the lintel level and had rightfully received the first instalment of Rs 30,000 under the PMAY. After completing all the required construction milestones and formalities, he applied for the second instalment, submitting all necessary documents at the local PMAY office.
However, his application hit an illegal roadblock. An employee at the office allegedly informed him that the computer operator, Soban Bagwala, was demanding a bribe of Rs 2,000 to move the file forward and clear the payment. Instead of complying, the aggrieved citizen contacted the ACB helpline and filed a complaint.
Red-Handed on the Office Terrace
Acting swiftly on the tip-off, the Anti-Corruption Bureau team set a trap. When the beneficiary went to the panchayat office as instructed, Bagwala reportedly called him to the terrace to receive the money, likely in an attempt to avoid witnesses. It was at this moment that the waiting ACB officials swooped in and caught the computer operator red-handed with the marked currency notes.
The arrest underscores the persistent challenges of corruption at the ground level, even in flagship central government schemes designed to aid the underprivileged. The ACB's action sends a strong message against such malpractices that hinder the delivery of welfare benefits to intended recipients.
