Kheda cops booked for bribery after nearly two years
Updated: Dec 19th, 2024
Two police officials in Kheda, Gujarat, have been booked by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for allegedly demanding a bribe of ₹3.75 lakh in February 2023.
The accused, Pravinsinh Solanki, a constable, and Dhira Pagi, a retired assistant sub-inspector, allegedly sought the bribe from a woman and her family to prevent them from being charged under the Gujarat Money Lenders Act.
In February 2023 Solanki had demanded a bribe of ₹10 lakh from the woman to drop four applications alleging illegal money lending against her and her family. Solanki later reduced the amount to ₹4 lakh and scheduled a meeting at Pagi’s residence to finalise the deal. After further negotiations, the bribe amount was settled at ₹3.75 lakh.
Following the demand the woman had approached ACB, who had set up a trap to catch the officers red-handed, but the attempt failed as the accused were not present at the designated location during the planned bribe exchange.
However, the ACB had collected crucial evidence, including phone recordings, which were subsequently verified by the Forensic Science Laboratory.
Based on the FSL report, the ACB has now booked Solanki and Pagi for corruption and criminal misconduct. Solanki is accused of abusing his position as a public servant to extort money in connivance with Pagi
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