This crusader nails the corrupt

MUMBAI: Colaba resident Ashok Patel, 50, is a crusader against corruption, much in the mould of Anna Hazare. To the small businessmen in Nariman Point, Fort and Colaba, Patel, president of the Fort Merchants’ Association, has always been in the forefront to bring the corrupt to book.

The association, which represents the interests of 425 shopkeepers and traders, has found a champion in the Gujarat native, who has helped the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) trap 32 corrupt officials.

According to them, it was because of Patel that the Cuffe Parade police could net three policemen from Kurla who had kidnapped three traders from Hutatma Chowk  on December 5, 2003. Patel says the cops kidnapped and held them under the Chowpatty bridge and demanded Rs25,000 for their release. Their relatives sought his help. Acting on Patel's advice, a relative lodged a complaint with the Cuffe Parade police, who arrested the policemen red-handed while accepting the extortion money.

Patel's crusade began 16 years ago when he had local Shiv Sena strongman, Baban Sethe, arrested by the MRA Marg police while accepting Rs15,000 from a trader.

Patel says he has successfully "trapped" officers in bribery cases from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, State Excise Department, registration office, fire brigade, sales tax, weights & measurements, BEST, traffic department, income tax and sub-inspectors of the Railway Protection Force.

Patel has received two appreciation certificates from SS Ambedkar, former additional director general of police, and SS Dhat, deputy inspector general of State ACB in 2002. "My prize catch was income tax officer Ravindra Narayan, who was arrested by the ACB on May 26, while accepting a bribe of Rs40,000 from me to settle my I-T assessment," Patel says. "The I-T officer had been demanding money since January."

Patel has helped the police make copies of confidential documents related to the 1993 bomb blasts case.