Thane Municipal Corporation Peon Arrested for Accepting Rs 2,500 Bribe

A 43-year-old peon attached to the Thane Municipal Corporation was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau on Monday, September 9, after being caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 2,500 in Thane. The accused had allegedly demanded the money to facilitate a name change on an official property tax receipt.

The arrested employee has been identified as Devendra Dwarkanath Koli, who works in the Property Tax Recovery Department of the civic body. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (ACB Thane) Bharat Jadhav, Koli demanded the illicit payment from a 36-year-old businessman who had recently rented an office space for his firm within the municipal limits.

When the businessman approached the civic department to update the property tax records, Koli allegedly sought Rs 2,500 to process the official change of name on the tax receipt. Unwilling to pay the bribe, the businessman approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau and filed a formal complaint against the civic peon on September 4.

Following the complaint, ACB officials conducted an initial investigation to verify the allegations. After establishing the demand, the anti-graft agency set a trap on Monday to apprehend the municipal staffer in the act.

During the operation, ACB personnel caught Koli red-handed while he was accepting the marked currency notes totalling Rs 2,500 from the complainant. He was immediately taken into custody by the investigating team.

A case has been registered against Koli under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act at the Wagle Estate police station. Anti-Corruption Bureau officials stated that further legal proceedings against the accused are currently underway.