Excise inspector held for offering bribe to female colleague to withdraw complaint

The agency, to verify the complainant's claims, laid a trap in the Kopri area in Thane on Monday.

In a ‘reverse trap’, the Thane unit of the Maharashtra Anti Corruption Bureau on Monday arrested a state excise inspector for allegedly offering a bribe to his female colleague in exchange for not pursuing a molestation case that she had filed against him.

According to ACB officials, the accused has been identified as Rajendra Shirsat (47). ACB officials said that the complainant, who also works in the same department, had earlier filed a complaint of outraging modesty against Shirsat under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code, and the matter is currently under investigation.

“Shirsat contacted the complainant and offered to pay her Rs 50 lakh in exchange for not pursuing the case further and possibly withdrawing the case. He also assured her that he would help her get a transfer to a good posting,” said an ACB officer.

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The complainant approached the ACB. The agency, to verify her claims, laid a trap in the Kopri area in Thane on Monday.

During this trap, Shirsat allegedly offered Rs 15 lakh to the complainant, and acting on the ACB’s instructions, the complainant accepted the offer. A second meeting was then fixed for Monday night for handing over the money, said officials.

“At around 10 pm on Monday, Shirsat met the complainant in Vikhroli near the Eastern Express Highway and gave her Rs 15 lakh in cash. We then arrested him. He has been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act and we are conducting further inquiries against him,” said the officer.

ACB personnel are currently conducting searches at Shirsat’s office and residence to evaluate his assets, so that they can be compared with his income, said officials.

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