Minister’s PA, assistant and clerk arrested for taking bribe

Express news service, Fri, Sep 23, 2011, Mumbai:

The Mumbai unit of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday caught the personal assistant (PA), assistant and clerk of the Minister for School Education red-handed for allegedly accepting bribe. The officials were arrested from Mantralaya after a trap was laid by the ACB.

According to ACB officers, PA Deepak Karande, clerk Pravin Bodke and assistant Prashant Andhare were arrested after they allegedly sought bribe from a complainant. “The complainant is the secretary of an educational institution. He had sent a proposal to start English medium in the institution for Class VIII to XII. The file was pending here, so the complainant went to meet Andhare,” said an ACB officer.

“Andhare told the complainant he will forward the file to higher authorities if he was given Rs 50,000. When the complainant said he couldn’t shell out such a large sum, Andhare told him to give Rs 30,000, failing which he would not send the file for approval,” said the officer.

Seeing that Andhare will not budge, the complainant paid him Rs 15,000. Andhare then told him that he will forward the file only when the complainant pays up the remaining amount. He also told him to speak to the minister’s PA for further work.

“The complainant then went to the PA, who asked him for Rs 90,000. Tired of paying bribes, he filed a written complaint against the assistant and the PA. A trap was then laid for them,” the officer said.

A team of ACB officials waited outside and as the two accused took bribe and were arrested. “They confessed that they asked for a bribe. The PA was caught while he was taking part payment of Rs 50,000. We also arrested the clerk Bodke who also asked the complainant for Rs 15,000. Further investigations are on,” said the officer.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ministers-pa-assistant-and-clerk-arrested/850439/

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Soon, a 24X7 helpline to register bribe complaints

PTI, New Delhi, October 21, 2011

Harassed by corrupt babus demanding bribe or delaying work?

Aggrieved persons will soon be able to seek help through a 24X7 toll free number, 1964, to be made functional by the Central Vigilance Commission.

According to country’s anti-corruption watchdog officials, the number will act as a one-stop solution for all complaints related to corruption.

“The anti-bribery helpline will assist complainants in their problems related to unnecessary lingering of work in a concerned government department due to demand of undue favours or gratification by public servants,” a CVC official said.

He said a full-fledged call centre will also be set up to provide services round the clock.

“People will be able to register complaints related to bribery being faced by them in all the central government ministries, departments and public sector units, among others,” the official said.

However, complaints related to Delhi Government or its departments will not be resolved through the proposed helpline or by the Commission since it does not come under its jurisdiction.

The number, 1964, assumes significance as the Central Vigilance Commission was set up in February 1964 by the government.

“We have worked out the technical modalities with the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL). There are few things needed to be worked out with other stake holders. We plan to start it within two-months time,” the official said.

Presently, the CVC has a toll free number 1800-11-0180 and 011-24651000 which is operational between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

“The 1964 will be working seven days and there will be no such time limitation to register complaints,” the official added.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2558831.ece