Priti Pathak
In a much shocking incident in Mumbai, the entire staff, consisting seven employees of a rationing office in Govandi were arrested by the Mumbai unit of anti – corruption bureau (ACB), on Tuesday.
According to press note issued by ACB, arrested accused identified as rationing officer – Shamu Melappa Dhotre, rationing inspector – Sujata Vitthal Sawant, clerk – Pradeep Sukhlal Patil, clerk – Lakshmi Deepak Dhage, peon – Prashant Pandurang Peje, assistant rationing officer – Aniruddh Digambar Kulkarni and a private person (agent) Asha Dilip Sonawane for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 2,500.
All of the accused were attached with rationing office No.: 44-E, Shivaji Nagar, Govandi in suburban Mumbai.
The complainant helps the people with their difficulties that approach the rationing office for work. The complainant was supposed to send his son out of Mumbai for education for which he wanted to remove the son’s name from the ration card. He had filed an application in the rationing office No. 44-E. The above mentioned officers of the rationing office demanded a bribe from the complainant for assisting him in the work.
The complainant on May 26 approached ACB as he had no intentions to fulfill their demands. On the basis of the complaint on May 27 in a trap set at the said rationing office the ACB arrested, Shamu Dhotre, Pradeep Patil, Prashant Peje and Lakshmi Dhage each accepting a bribe of Rs. 200 along with Sujata Sawant accepting a bribe of Rs. 500, Aniruddh Kulkarni accepting a bribe of Rs. 200 and their aide Asha Sonavane accepting a bribe of Rs. 1,000 summing up the bribe amount to Rs. 2,500.
Further investigation in the matter is in process.