Maharashtra sports minister’s PA, staff caught taking bribe

In a major embarrassment for school education and sports minister Rajendra Darda, the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) of the state police caught three members of his staff accepting bribes in Mantralaya on Thursday from the secretary of a Nashik school.

Niket Kaushik, additional commissioner of police, ACB, told DNA that Darda’s personal assistant Deepak Karande was caught accepting Rs50,000. He had demanded Rs90,000 as bribe and this was the first instalment.

The minister’s assistant Prashant Andhare was caught with Rs15,000 while his clerk Pravin Bodke was held as the complainant was told to hand over the money to him.

“The incident is unfortunate and has tarnished the reputation of the education department,” Darda told DNA.

The Nashik school secretary said his institute had sought permission in 2010 and 2011 to add classes up to Std XII. The upper secretary of the school education and sports department, Mantralaya, asked the institute to fulfil some requirements, which it did.  However, there was no response from the ministry. The complainant then approached Andhare who asked for Rs50,000 as bribe. He lowered the amount by Rs20,000 later.