Thane ACB arrests 2 revenue officials for demanding over Rs 3 lakh bribe

THANE: The Thane unit of the Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested two revenue officials for allegedly demanding and accepting bribe of over Rs 3 lakh from the complainant for making entries in land records in Maharashtra's Palghar district.
The duo, identified as Pradeep Mukne, 53, nayab tehsildar and Sanjay Sonawane, 53, circle officer, were posted at the Vasai tahsildar office of the district.
The official said that both the accused demanded Rs 2 lakh each from the complainant for carrying out certain mutation entries in the land records after a land deal. “While Mukne agreed for a sum of Rs 1.50 lakh, another accused agreed for Rs 1.90 lakh,” said a police officer.
The complainant lodged a complaint with the ACB officials, who after verifying the complaint, laid a trap at the tehsil office on Monday and arrested Sonawane accepting a sum of Rs 1.50 lakh from the complainant.
Following the arrest of Sonawane, Mukne was also nabbed as the probe revealed that he had also demanded the bribe.
Offences under the prevention of corruption act were registered against the duo with the local police station on Monday evening.