Middleman held for taking Rs one lakh bribe

VADODRA: The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) nabbed a middleman, who had accepted a bribe of Rs one lakh on behalf of an enforcement officer of provident fund (PF) office, on Monday.
Accused Hasmukh Trivedi was sent to police custody till October 20 by a special ACB court here.

The complainant, who runs an IT company in city, was asked to give a bribe of Rs 1.25 lakh to PF officer Paru Tiwari to settle a case of pending PF contribution. Recently, Tiwari had visited the complainant’s office and asked her to deposit the pending contribution within a day or face police case.

Later, the complainant approached Trivedi, who claims to be a PF consultant, to sort the payment issues. Trivedi told her that he knows Tiwari and would settle the case, but she will have to “give something” to Tiwari. Initially, the complainant was told she would have to pay Rs seve lakh.

When the complainant questioned about the large amount, Trivedi promised that he will get the amount reduced. After few days, the complainant was informed that the actual PF contribution is Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.25 lakh will have to be paid to Tiwari.

The complainant recorded the call with Trivedi and approached ACB along with recording. As a part of a trap, Tiwari was informed that an arrangement of Rs one lakh has been done which she agreed to accept. She asked the complainant to give the money to Trivedi on Monday. The moment Trivedi accepted the amount, he was nabbed by ACB sleuths.

He was produced in the court which remanded him to custody for further investigation.