Police officer arrested while accepting bribe

MUMBAI: A police officer, attached to the Railway Police, was arrested on Monday while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1,500 for not arresting a wrist watch shopowner in connection with a robbery case.

Assistant Police Inspector Suresh Moraye (42), attached to the Organised Crime Unit of the Government Railway Police, was arrested while accepting the money from one Mohammed Siraj Khan, who owns the shop in suburban Govandi, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Anti Corruption Bureau) Vilas Tupe said.

Tupe said a suspected mobile phone robber had told interrogators from the GRP that he used to sell the mobile phones to Khan. Khan was picked up for questioning by Moraye and pleaded innocence following which the latter demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000.

The bribe amount was settled to Rs 4,000 and Moraye was caught while accepting the second installment at his office in Central Mumbai's Byculla.

The ACB is currently conducting searches at the residence of Moraye and also looking out for one constable Suryawanshi who had collected the first installment of Rs 2,000 on behalf of Moraye from Khan, Tupe said.

Moraye will be produced before a special court for remand on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, ACB sources in Nasik said a Talathi (Revenue official) was arrested while allegedly accepting Rs 500 for registering name of the complainant on land records.

Talathi of Saja Mhasrul village Sudhakar Ganpat Sambre (52) was arrested on.