Geologist, constable caught in ACB traps to check bribery

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat AntiCorruption Bureau (ACB) successfully conducted two major traps in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar on Friday night. In Ahmedabad, the agency trapped a constable and a private person for taking Rs 1 lakh to prevent mistreatment of a person in police custody. In Gandhinagar, a geologist was caught accepting Rs 2 lakh in connection with illegal sand mining.
The geologist works with Commissioner of Geology and Mining. He was caught from Sector 8 on Friday for demanding and accepting Rs 2 lakh to allow illegal sand mining in Gandhinagar.
ACB officials said Parth Pansuriya, a resident of Thakkarnagar, had given an application against Abhishek Tripathi, a resident of Makarba Road, Vejalpur.Tripathi works on yearly contract with the department and it is his third year on the job, said investigators. The office of the director, Gujarat Mineral Research and Development Soci ety, hires fellow geologists for the commissioner's office.
"Pansuriya said he digs and sells sand primarily to construction sites. He gets license for the same from district office of geology and mining department.Tripathi had told him that the process takes a long time. Instead, he could give money to him and continue digging without any permission.," said an ACB official.A team led by inspector RM Sarode accompanied Pansuriya when he took the bag containing Rs 2 lakh cash to Sector 8 during a meeting at 8 pm on Friday. Officials said that the concerned govern ment department has been informed about the trap.
In the other case Ranjit sinh Rajput, a resident of CTM, had complained to the agency against Dhiraj De sai, a constable of Odhav police station. According to the complaint, Dhiraj worked as a middleman for Amraiwadi police inspector OM Desai. In the matter Dhiraj had initially demanded Rs 4 lakh bribe to facilitate custody proceedings of the complainant's brother The amount was eventually settled at Rs 1 lakh.
"Rajput's brother Sachin is wanted in bootlegging and rioting cases by Amraiwadi police. As four to five earlier accused in the same bootlegging case were caught by police and beaten up, Sachin was apprehensive about surrender, fearing the same fate. Thus, his brother started discussions with Amraiwadi cops, and he was directed to Dhiraj Desai," said TK Patel, assistant director of ACB.
A team led by inspector MJ Christian accompanied Rajput when he met Dhiraj Desai at an eatery near Indrapuri crossroads, Odhav, at 8 pm on Friday. Sunil Panchal, a private person (not a policeman) from Odhav, accepted the money on behalf of Dhiraj Desai, apparently in order to pass it on to OM Desai.
"Desai even mentioned that the money was to be given to the inspector for not ill-treating Sachin in police custody, and for his quick production in court so that he could apply for bail," said an ACB official, adding, "However, OM Desai is not found directly involved in the case. Corroborative evidence against him comes from the fact that none of the receivers have any say in the affairs at Amraiwadi police station where Rajput is wanted," said an ACB official.
Rs 1.04 lakh extra found on Desai
While searching Dhiraj Desai, ACB officials also found Rs1.04 lakh unaccounted cash apart from the Rs 1lakh bribe money. Desai was unable to explain the source of the extra cash and the money has been seized as evidence.Officials suspect that Desai may have been working as middleman (vahivatdaar) for more than one police official.
Data on chits under scanner
ACB recovered some paper chits from Desai on which several dates and 'to do' or 'not to do' are scribbled. Sources said that the chits might indicate the days when the bootleggers who pay regular hafta would have to keep shops closed due to probable police raid. Sources said that they are tallying the recent raids by various police agencies in eastern city with the dates mentioned in the chits.