In a major anti-corruption operation, officials from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) have apprehended a police inspector and a lawyer in Surat for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 3 lakh. The incident took place at the Kim police station, where the duo was caught red-handed.
The Trap and the Negotiated Bribe
According to ACB officials, the case originated from a complaint against the brother of the victim. The brother was facing allegations in a case involving a honey trap, impersonation of a police officer, and extortion, which was registered at the Kim police station in Surat district.
The complainant alleged that Police Inspector Pravinsinh Jadeja, operating through advocate Chirag Gondaliya, initially demanded a staggering Rs 10 lakh as a bribe. The money was to ensure that a First Information Report (FIR) under the stringent Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GujCTOC) Act would not be filed against the accused. The bribe was also meant to dilute the charges and facilitate anticipatory bail.
After negotiations, the amount was reportedly brought down to Rs 3 lakh. The complainant, determined to expose the corruption, was forced to pawn his gold chain to arrange the cash. He then approached the ACB police station and filed a formal complaint, setting the stage for a meticulously planned sting operation.
The Sting Operation and Arrest
An ACB team from Ahmedabad laid a trap under the supervision of Assistant Director M.D. Mewada. The operation was executed by Woman Police Inspector V.D. Chaudhary.
As per the plan, the complainant engaged in deliberate conversations with both accused. Following the instructions of PI Jadeja, advocate Chirag Gondaliya accepted the marked currency notes amounting to Rs 3 lakh. The ACB team immediately moved in and caught both individuals red-handed at the spot, recovering the entire bribe money.
The ACB stated that the police inspector and the lawyer had colluded and assisted each other in committing the offence, exploiting the serious nature of the GujCTOC Act to extort money from the victim's family.
Implications and Official Statement
This arrest highlights the ongoing challenges of corruption within the system, where individuals in positions of authority and legal practice allegedly conspire for illicit gains. The use of the GujCTOC Act, a powerful law intended for serious organised crime, as leverage for extortion is a particularly grave concern.
The ACB's successful trap operation demonstrates the agency's vigilance in tackling such corrupt practices. Both the accused, PI Pravinsinh Jadeja and advocate Chirag Gondaliya, now face serious legal consequences for their alleged actions. The case underscores the importance of citizen complaints and coordinated efforts by anti-corruption bodies to uphold integrity in law enforcement and the judicial process.
