ACB Nabs Talati-Cum-Mantri and Aide in Bribery Sting Operation in Ahmedabad District
In a significant crackdown on corruption, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) successfully trapped a talati-cum-mantri and his assistant while they were allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 9,800 in Detroj village, located in Ahmedabad district. The operation, conducted on Wednesday, resulted in the immediate arrest of both individuals at a private establishment, following a meticulously planned trap initiated by a complaint from a vigilant citizen.
Details of the Accused and the Alleged Crime
The accused have been identified as Ketan Dharjiya, who serves as the talati-cum-mantri of Detroj gram panchayat, and Jayantibhai Dhudaji Thakor, a temporary peon at the same panchayat. Dharjiya, a Class III government employee, resides in Viramgam, while Thakor is a local resident of Detroj. According to ACB officials, the complainant had approached the Detroj gram panchayat to assess seven houses in a residential society for tax purposes.
During this process, Dharjiya allegedly demanded money beyond the official tax amount. Specifically, he requested Rs 1,600 per house as the legitimate tax and an additional Rs 1,400 per house as illegal gratification, totaling Rs 3,000 per house. For all seven houses, this amounted to a total demand of Rs 21,000. Unwilling to comply with this corrupt practice, the complainant promptly reported the matter to the ACB, setting the stage for a decisive anti-corruption operation.
The Trap and Arrest
In response to the complaint, the ACB arranged a trap on February 5. During the operation, Dharjiya allegedly instructed his aide, Thakor, to collect the money from the complainant at the Khodiyar Agro Centre in Detroj. According to the pre-arranged plan, Rs 11,200 was to be collected as the house tax, while Rs 9,800 was designated as the bribe amount. ACB officials closely monitored the exchange and intervened at the critical moment.
The bribe amount of Rs 9,800 was accepted by Thakor and immediately recovered by the ACB team during the trap. Both accused were caught red-handed on the spot, allegedly acting in collusion to extort money from the citizen. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and further investigation is currently underway to determine if similar demands were made from other individuals in the area.
This incident highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat corruption at the grassroots level and underscores the importance of citizen vigilance in reporting such malpractices.
