Traffic cop convicted for accepting bribe

The court on Tuesday convicted a traffic constable for accepting bribe from an alleged traffic offender in 2006. Special judge S D Tulankar sentenced traffic constable Sanjay Laxman Gambhire (35),a resident of Wakad Police Lines,to three months of rigorous imprisonment and fined him Rs 500 for accepting a bribe of Rs 300. His senior,assistant police inspector Chandrakant Vishwanath Kakade was acquitted due to lack of evidence.

According to the prosecution,both policemen were working with Wanowrie traffic division at that time. “On July 28,2006,Somwanshi was taking his nephew to a school at Appa Balwant Chowk in a Maruti van. When they reached near Golibar Maidan,Kakade stopped the van and asked for driving licence and other documents. When Somwanshi showed the documents,Kakade asked for Rs 700 saying that he has violated traffic rules and didn’t have insurance papers. Somwanshi told them that he is not carrying cash and he was taken to Golibar Police chowky,” said additional public prosecutor P S Jadhav.

On reaching the chowky,Gambhire told Somwanshi that API Kakade has instructed him to return the driving licence in lieu of Rs 300. Somwanshi left the police station under the pretext of giving the money on next day. Later,he lodged a complaint in this regard against the duo with Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). On the next day,around 10 am,Gambhire was caught red handed by ACB while accepting Rs 300 from Somwanshi. Gambhire and Kakade were charged under Prevention of Corruption Act. Gambhire would have to undergo one month of simple imprisonment,if he fails to pay the fine.