PGVCL deputy engineer, lineman caught in ₹80,000 bribery trap in Jamnagar

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has trapped a PGVCL deputy engineer and a lineman in Jamnagar district for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹80,000 from a citizen seeking a new electricity connection for a guest house.

According to the ACB, the complainant had applied for an enhanced electricity load and a new power connection for a guest house at the Sapar Sub-Division office of Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) in Jamnagar. Despite the application being pending for a considerable period, no action was taken.

The accused deputy engineer, Rushi Parmar (42), allegedly demanded ₹1 lakh to install a new transformer and electricity meter and process the connection. Following negotiations, the demand was reduced to ₹80,000.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB, which organised a trap operation.

During the trap laid near Nagarjun Petrol Pump at Moti Khavdi on the Jamnagar-Khambhalia Highway on Tuesday, assistant lineman Manojbhai Prajapati (43) allegedly met the complainant, held the planned conversation and accepted ₹80,000 on behalf of the deputy engineer.

The ACB caught Prajapati red-handed while accepting the bribe amount and subsequently apprehended Parmar from his office. The entire bribe amount of ₹80,000 was recovered during the operation.

The trap was carried out by A R Gohil, Police Inspector, ACB Police Station, Jamnagar, along with the Jamnagar ACB team, under the supervision of J D Mewada, Assistant Director, ACB Rajkot Unit.