Senior inspector remanded to police custody till March 24

MUMBAI: A senior police inspector who was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 and a liquor bottle from a hotelier, was on Saturday remanded to police custody till March 24.

Anand Chavan, 56, attached to the Kherwadi police station, was produced before Additional Sessions Judge SS Joshi on Saturday, a day after the Anti-Corruption Bureau caught him while allegedly accepting the bribe from hotelier Chirag Bhatt.

According to Bhatt, the senior police official demanded the bribe for not framing a case against his hotel employees, who were detained by the police in connection with an assault case earlier.

The searches at Chavan's residence after his arrest resulted in the recovery of property, cash and valuables worth over Rs one crore disproportionate to his known sources of income.

According to the police, locals had approached Bhatt, who is the owner of Celebrity Restaurant and Hero Bar, on March 3 asking for a contribution of Rs 1,500 for Holi celebrations.

He gave Rs 250 instead following which some unidentified people attacked his property.

Bhatt filed a complaint in the Kherwadi police station but the matter was later resolved. However, Chavan later approached Bhatt allegedly asking for a bribe of Rs five lakh failing which he would book eleven of his waiters on charges of assault.

The amount was negotiated to Rs one lakh and Chavan was arrested while accepting the first installment.

Chavan has been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.