Jhalod Housing Scheme Bribe: Municipality Engineer, Middleman Caught With ₹10,000
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested a Jhalod Municipality engineer and an alleged middleman after they were caught accepting a ₹10,000 bribe linked to the release of a housing instalment under the Pradhan Mantri Shehri Awas Yojana.
The trap was carried out on August 10 at Muwada Chowkdi near the Jhalod police post, where the accused allegedly accepted the bribe at a pan masala stall.
Engineer, Middleman Caught In ACB Trap
The accused have been identified as Jayeshkumar Jayantilal Patel, 35, an engineer working with the Affordable Housing Mission (AHM) of Jhalod Municipality on an 11-month contract, and Manubhai Chandubhai Vasaiya, 49, who was allegedly acting as a middleman.
According to the ACB, the complainant had been sanctioned a house under the Pradhan Mantri Shehri Awas Yojana. The first instalment of ₹70,000 was deposited into the beneficiary's Bank of Baroda account at Jhalod.
The complainant alleged that ₹5,000 was demanded as a bribe from the first instalment. After the second instalment of ₹80,000 was credited, another ₹10,000 was allegedly demanded.
When the third instalment of ₹1.50 lakh was deposited into the beneficiary's account, the complainant refused to pay the alleged bribe and approached the Mahisagar ACB.
₹10,000 Bribe Accepted During Trap
Following the complaint, the ACB arranged a trap. During the operation, officials alleged that Patel instructed Vasaiya to collect the money.
The ACB said Patel subsequently spoke with the complainant and allegedly demanded ₹10,000. The money was accepted in the presence of the ACB team, following which both accused were apprehended.
The agency said the ₹10,000 bribe amount was recovered in full.
ACB Probe Under Way
The operation was conducted by Police Inspector M.M. Tejot of the Mahisagar ACB unit in Lunawada.
The operation was supervised by B.M. Patel, Assistant Director, ACB Panchmahal Unit, Godhra, under the direction of Baldev Desai, IPS, Deputy Director, ACB Vadodara.
The case concerns alleged bribery in connection with the release of benefits under a government housing scheme. Further investigation is expected to establish the respective roles of the two accused and determine whether others were involved.
