Navi Mumbai News: Land Records Clerk Caught Red-Handed Taking Bribe Of ₹3,000 In Vashi

Navi Mumbai: In a crackdown on corruption, the Anti-Corruption Department on Tuesday held Digambar Dhole, a clerk at the Vashi Deputy Superintendent of Land Records Office, while accepting a bribe of Rs 3,000. The bribe was demanded in exchange for marking the boundary of agricultural land in Vashi taluka.

The complainant, a resident of Vashi, had submitted an application for the measurement of Group No. 444 agricultural land, which was registered in his mother’s name. As per the procedure, the land measurement was carried out on May 7, 2025, by Dhole, a public servant from the Land Records Office. However, even after the measurement was completed, the complainant faced repeated delays when requesting Dhole to mark the boundary of the land.

Dhole Demanded ₹3,000 Bribe For Boundary Marking

Dhole continued to evade the task and eventually demanded a bribe of Rs 3,000 from the complainant to proceed with the boundary marking. Unwilling to comply, the complainant approached the Anti-Corruption Department, which swiftly acted on the complaint.

ACB Sets Trap, Nabs Accused Official Red-handed

According to a Lokmat Times report, the department set up a trap after verifying the bribe demand in the presence of independent witnesses (Pancha) at the Land Records Office. As planned, Dhole was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe from the complainant. The operation was led by Police Inspector Vikas Rathod and Deputy Superintendent Siddharam Mhetre, along with team members Ashish Patil, Vishal Doke, Zaker Kazi and driver Dattatray Karde.

Following the trap, a case was registered against Dhole at Vashi Police Station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, which deals with public servants accepting illegal gratification.

The Anti-Corruption Department has urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any instances where government officials demand bribes. They have also stressed the importance of collective public participation in rooting out corruption from administrative processes, particularly in land and revenue departments where such cases are often reported.

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