Gadchiroli Aug. 26 (District Correspondent) Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has booked the In- charge Block Development Officer (BDO) of Aheri Panchayat Samiti one Pratik Diwakar Channawar for accepting a bribe of Rs. 1.30 lakh through an agent. In- charge Taluka PESA Coordinator Sanjeev Kothari and Anil Gowardhan of village Venkatapur in Aheri taluka have been arrested by the ACB in the bribery case.
According to ACB, a complainant was in need of no objection certificate for obtaining the transit permit for the transportation of tendu leaves which he had collected from Govindgaon forest unit by purchasing them in auction. The Incharge BDO and Sanjeev Kothari demanded a bribe of Rs. 1.30 lakhs from the complainant for issuing the said no objection certificate.
As the complainant did not wish to give the bribe, he complained the matter to the Anti-Corruption Bureau. The officials of the ACB verified the complaint in a confidential manner and found that both the accused had clearly demanded bribe in front of the witnesses. The third accused Anil Gowardhan accepted the bribe money during which he was caught red handed.
An offence has been registered against all the three accused with the Aheri Police Station in this regard and further investigations are being carried on. The residences of all the accused also are being checked by the ACB sleuths in connection with the case.
The action was taken by Police Inspector, Shridhar Bhosle, Shivaji Rathod, Hawaldar Natthu Dhote, Police Nayak Rajesh Padamgirwar, Kishor Jaunjarkar, Police Constables Sandeep Udan, Sandeep Ghormode, Prafill Dorlikar under the guidance of Rahul Maknikar, SP, Sachin Kadam, Sanjay Purandare, Additional SPs, and under the supervision of Anil Lokhande, DySP of Anti-Corruption Bureau.
The Incharge BDO is absconding and his search is being conducted by the ACB.
