Class-I MSB officer arrested by ACB sleuths for taking bribe in Surat

A class-I officer was arrested by the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials for accepting bribe of Rs1 lakh from a private contractor near Majura-gate on Monday. The official, Dilipsinh Thakore, had demanded money to clear bills of benches procured for schools running under Municipal School Board.

Govind Patel, a resident of Lambe-Hanuman road, is engaged in the business of making school benches. He supplied 1,100 benches to various schools of the MSB under an agreement, a few months back. When Patel asked Thakore, deputy district education officer and in-charge administrator MSB, for payment, he demanded Rs2 lakh from him to clear his bills. It was decided that Patel will pay Rs1 lakh in advance and the remaining amount after receiving the payment.

However, Patel contacted ACB officials, who laid a trap to nab Thakore. As per the plan, Thakore arrived at Majura-gate on Monday and the moment he accepted cash from Patel, the cops arrested him. The officials also arrested Thakore's driver for his alleged involvement in the crime.

According to sources, during his tenure, Thakore made property worth crores in and around Surat, by taking advantage of his position. Sources in MSB said that a majority of staff working with Thakore used to support him in his activity. Thakore is alleged to have taken Rs3,000 from an MSB school teacher to clear his application for loan from PF account.