SMC chief accountant detained for ‘taking bribe of Rs 2.5 lakh’

Surat Municipal Corporation’s Chief Accountant Tejas Aariwala was detained by the city’s Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 2.5 lakh. The bribe was said to have been taken through a peon to facilitate the return of a security deposit to a vendor who had undertaken some tasks for the corporation, officials said Tuesday.

SMC peon Lalubhai Bhikhubhai Patel was also detained for taking the money on Aariwala’s behalf.
As per an official release, the complainant, whose identity has not been revealed, filed an application for releasing the security deposit. Aariwala called the complainant and demanded a bribe of Rs 2.5 lakh to return the deposit and asked him to give it to the peon.

However, the complainant, unwilling to pay the bribe, approached the ACB, which laid a trap. Patel was caught accepting the money and Aariwala was also caught while talking to the complainant, showing intent in the alleged offence.

The trap was laid at Pancholi Society on Ghod Dod Road in Surat.