ACB traps ASI, two GRD members for accepting ₹30,000 bribe in Ahmedabad rural

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Saturday trapped an assistant sub-inspector and two Gram Rakshak Dal (GRD) members attached to Kanbha Police Station for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹30,000 from a cosmetics factory owner in Ahmedabad rural.

The accused were identified as Bhaveshbhai Labhshankar Raval, an unarmed assistant sub-inspector posted at Kanbha Police Station; Kamleshbhai alias Robert Vinodbhai Barot, a GRD member; and Ranjitbhai Jashubhai Solanki, another GRD member attached to the same police station.

According to the ACB official, the complainant, described as an alert citizen, runs a cosmetics manufacturing unit in the Dhamatvan area of Daskroi taluka. The complainant alleged that on May 14, Raval, Barot, Solanki and another individual visited the factory and accused him of allegedly altering expiry dates on cosmetic products before selling them in the market.

The officials allegedly threatened to register a criminal case and send the complainant to jail. The ACB said the accused initially demanded ₹2 lakh to avoid filing a case, but later settled for ₹30,000 after negotiations.

Investigators said that on the evening of May 15, Solanki allegedly visited the factory to collect the bribe amount on behalf of the other accused. However, the complainant informed him that the money had not yet been arranged, following which Solanki allegedly contacted the other accused over the phone and assured them that the payment would be made later.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB, which laid a trap on May 16 at the Bakrol police chowky compound under Kanbha Police Station limits.

According to officials, Raval allegedly contacted the complainant over the phone and instructed him to hand over the bribe money to Barot. During the trap, Barot allegedly engaged in a conversation regarding the bribe demand and accepted ₹ 30,000 from the complainant, following which he was caught red-handed by the ACB team.

The ACB said Raval and Barot were apprehended during the operation, while Solanki was not present at the spot and is being searched for in connection with the case.