ULHASNAGAR: An FIR of bribery has been registered against five Election Commission officials for taking Rs 75,000 from a flower trader in lieu of Rs 7.5 lakh recovered from him, despite him having documents for the cash. After "realising their mistake", the accused returned the money.
According to EC sources, Baban Amle, the flower trader was on his way to Ahmednagar Friday night to pay money to flower farmers. Two chiefs of election squads 3 and 6, Sandeep Siraswal and Sanket Chanpur, stopped his car. There were three others in the team — UMC employee Annasaheb Borude, police constable Vishwanath Thakur, and police official Rajratna Bukate.
During a search, election officials found Rs 7.5 lakh in a bag in the car. The main accused, Siraswal, threatened to seize the cash though Amle explained to him that he had documents for it. However, Amle alleged Siraswal threatened to register a case unless he paid him Rs 75,000.
Amle said in his complaint that Siraswal took Rs 75,000 and let him go. Amlecomplained to Election Commission officials Friday night. After that, proceeding towards Ahmednagar, he passed the same spot when Siraswal flagged down the car and returned the money to him, saying it was a mistake, said sources.
A senior official said though money was returned, a crime was committed. Also, when Siraswal allegedly asked for money and when cash was found in the car, other staff should have recorded a video, which they failed to.
Ulhasnagar: An FIR of bribery has been registered against five Election Commission officials for taking Rs 75,000 from a flower trader in lieu of Rs 7.5 lakh recovered from him, despite him having documents for the cash. After "realising their mistake", the accused returned the money.
According to EC sources, Baban Amle, the flower trader was on his way to Ahmednagar Friday night to pay money to flower farmers. Two chiefs of election squads 3 and 6, Sandeep Siraswal and Sanket Chanpur, stopped his car. There were three others in the team — UMC employee Annasaheb Borude, police constable Vishwanath Thakur, and police official Rajratna Bukate.
During a search, election officials found Rs 7.5 lakhin a bag in the car. The main accused, Siraswal, threatened to seize the cash though Amle explained to him that he had documents for it. However, Amle alleged Siraswal threatened to register a case unless he paid him Rs 75,000.
Amle said in his complaint that Siraswal took Rs 75,000 and let him go. Amlecomplained to Election Commission officials Friday night. After that, proceeding towards Ahmednagar, he passed the same spot when Siraswal flagged down the car and returned the money to him, saying it was a mistake, said sources.
A senior official said though money was returned, a crime was committed. Also, when Siraswal allegedly asked for money and when cash was found in the car, other staff should have recorded a video, which they failed to.
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