Shiv Sena leader, civic official caught taking Rs 3.5 lakh to protect illegal construction

Sleuths from Thane's anti-corruption unit arrested an assistant commissioner of the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation and a Shiv Sena leader while accepting a bribe of Rs 3.5 lakh to protect an illegal construction.

Assistant municipal commissioner Jitendra Chaudhary, Pravin Mhapralkar, an ex-corporator from the Sena and his accomplice Arvind Todankar were arrested after builder Arun Singh approached the Thane ACB.

Singh had reached a settlement of Rs 46 lakh with the three accused. "Singh approached us a week ago after he paid Rs 2 lakh to the accused. We caught them red-handed the next day when they came to recover an additional Rs 3.5 lakh," said Dattatray Karale, superintendent of police, Thane ACB.

"We have arrested them under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and will produce them in court. We are investigating the case," said SP Karale.