Talati arrested in Rs 50k bribery case

Surat: Anti corruption bureau (ACB) arrested former talati of Palod Kothwa village of Surat district on Thursday in bribery case that had been registered against him on June 14.
Accused Mohammad Ayyub Yusuf Mirza had surrendered to the ACB on Wednesday. He was detained by the police and his Covid-19 test was done. After the report came negative Mirza was formally arrested.
An offence was registered against Mirza in April 2017 for demanding a bribe of Rs 50,000 to get a farm land to be declared non-agricultural. Following the demand, the complainant approached ACB and lodged the complaint. A trap was laid then but the accused gave ACB sleuths a slip after he smelt trouble when the complainant refused to give the promised bribe money to another person who was present in the same room. The accused had demanded the bribe when he was posted as talati in Palod Kothwa village of Mangrol taluka.
Meanwhile, ACB initiated an inquiry of demand of bribe since police had evidences like audio and video recording of the accused. The evidences were sent to Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and based on the report ACB registered the demand case recently.
The preliminary inquiry was conducted by S N Desai, police inspector, and the case is being investigated by R K Solanki, police inspector.