BMC babu caught pocketing Rs40,000 grease

A licence inspector attached to the BMC's H-West ward in Bandra was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly asking a snacks vendor to grease his palms with Rs40,000.

According to the ACB officials, the complainant runs a bhelpuri stall with his father in Santacruz (West). He approached the accused, Sachin Sankhe, 44, a few months ago to renew his licence.But before that could happen. a few weeks ago, the BMC sent him a notice stating that his business was running without the requisite permission and thus had to be closed down.

When he approached the ward office, the accused asked him to cough up Rs50,000 in exchange for not taking action against him and not rescinding his licence. After negotiations, this amount was brought down to Rs40,000.

The complainant then approached the ACB office after which a trap was laid to nab the accused in the act. An ACB official said, "We laid a trap outside the accused's office and caught him red-handed while accepting the bribe."

Sankhe was arrested on Monday under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.