SMC executive engineer, journalist booked in ₹15 lakh bribery case

The Surat unit of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday registered a bribery case against a Class-I executive engineer of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) and a local journalist for allegedly demanding ₹15 lakh to halt demolition at an industrial plot.

The accused have been identified as Vipul Ganeshwala, executive engineer (Class-I), Limbayat Zone, SMC, and Mohammad Ismail alias Parwana Jamilkhan Pathan, associated with a daily newspaper named 'Nishpaksh Gujarat Patrika'.

According to the ACB, a “conscious citizen” approached the bureau alleging that officials of the civic body had issued a prohibition notice on November 10, regarding construction at Sub-Industrial Plot. On February 13, demolition work was initiated at the site and ₹1.70 lakh was allegedly collected towards demolition charges. The work was subsequently halted, purportedly on the instructions of the executive engineer.

Investigators said Pathan, described as a close associate of the engineer, allegedly met the complainant multiple times and demanded ₹21 lakh on behalf of the public servant to prevent further demolition. Following negotiations and telephonic discussions with the engineer, the alleged demand was reduced to ₹15 lakh. It was agreed that ₹4 lakh would be paid on February 19, with the remaining ₹11 lakh to be delivered later.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB, which organised a trap at the office of 'Nishpaksh Gujarat Patrika' located at Shantinagar, Salabatpura.

During the trap proceedings, officials said Pathan engaged in conversation with the complainant and accepted ₹4 lakh as part payment of the alleged bribe. However, upon sensing suspicion, he allegedly fled with the cash. The recovery of the bribe amount was pending at the time of filing this report.

The executive engineer was not found during the initial phase of the investigation. The ACB has booked both accused for alleged criminal misconduct and abuse of official position.

The trap was laid by Surat City ACB, and further investigation is under way.