Traffic constable caught red-handed for accepting bribe

According to the ACB, a 38-year-old man, who works as a driver, had gone to Kalyan for some work on Wednesday and while returning, his vehicle broke down near Kashimira on Mira Road.

An officer said, “The complainant then switched on the parking lights and stopped his vehicle on the side of a road, when suddenly a bike-borne policeman, Rakshe, dashed onto the vehicle from behind.”

Officials said Rakshe sustained injuries on his head and hand due to which there was a spat between the two, following which the policeman reached out to the control room and called for more back up.

“The constable was taken to the hospital while the complainant and his vehicle were taken to the police station. However, sometime later Rakshe reached the police station and demanded Rs 10,000 to not take any legal action against him,” added the officer.

The driver then informed Rakshe that he only has Rs 3,500 in his bank account after which the constable asked him to transfer Rs 3,000 in the account of a pan shop owner through Google pay. The complainant was further directed to bring another Rs 7,000 and hand it over to him on Thursday.

The driver then approached the ACB office in Worli and lodged a complaint on Thursday morning. “After verifying the complaint, we lodged an FIR. Later, Rakshe reached out to him again and demanded Rs 7,000. The complainant was further instructed to come to Andheri to hand over the bribe,” an officer said.

The ACB officials subsequently laid a trap around the spot and when Rakshe went to accept the money, he sensed something amiss.

“He then started checking the complainant’s pockets. On realizing that he had been trapped, he started manhandling the complainant following which our team intervened and caught him red-handed,” said the officer.

Rakshe was later brought to the ACB office in Andheri, following which he was placed under arrest. He was produced before a court and sent to police custody till Saturday.