Sabarkantha ACB Catches MNREGA Employee in ₹15,000 Bribery Trap

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday arrested an MNREGA employee in Sabarkantha district after allegedly catching him accepting a ₹15,000 bribe during a trap operation.

According to the ACB, the accused has been identified as Rameshchandra Manilal Pandya, a muster clerk (mate) associated with the MNREGA department under the Idar Taluka Panchayat.

Bribe allegedly linked to housing assistance

The ACB said the complainant, described as an informed citizen, approached the agency after the accused allegedly demanded money in connection with housing assistance sanctioned under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Housing Scheme.

Investigators alleged that after the first instalment of ₹30,000 was credited to the complainant’s wife’s bank account, the accused demanded ₹15,000 as a bribe. The complainant also alleged that the accused spoke about providing certain concessions under the MNREGA scheme.

ACB lays trap

According to the ACB, the complainant was unwilling to pay the alleged bribe and lodged a complaint with the agency.

A trap was organised on August 7, 2026, during which the accused allegedly accepted ₹15,000 and was caught by the ACB team.

The trap operation was carried out by Police Inspector A.D. Suthar of the Sabarkantha ACB Police Station under the supervision of Assistant Director A.K. Parmar of the Gandhinagar ACB unit. The operation was overseen by Deputy Director Haresh Mewada of the ACB Ahmedabad.

The ACB said further investigation into the case is underway.