Rajya Sabha member exposes bribe-taking by Class II officer
Rajkot: BJP Rajya Sabha member Ram Mokariya exposed corruption in the administration, issuing a press release about a Class II officer of the weights and measures department taking a bribe of Rs 25,000 from a trader, despite Mokariya asking the officer not to harass the trader.
He also appealed to citizens to contact him if a govt officer demands a bribe.
The weights and measures department is a part of the controller of legal metrology, under the director of consumer affairs, in the state govt's food, civil supplies, and consumer affairs department. In a press statement, Mokariya said, "An officer from a govt department located on University Road raided a unit on the outskirts of the city. He made a settlement for the alleged irregularity, collected a fine, and also took Rs 25,000 as a part of the 'settlement'.
" He added, "The owner of the unit informed me about this. I reprimanded the officer who took the bribe, and the officer returned the money to the unit owner in 10 minutes."
Speaking to TOI, Mokariya said, "It was a Class II officer of the weights and measures department. I informed the minister of the department concerned and superior officers of anti-corruption bureau (ACB) about this incident."
He said that he received a call from the industrialist saying officials arrived to raid his unit. "I told the unit owner to pass the phone to the officer. I told the officer to impose the legal fine if the unit owner is at fault but not to harass him. The officer took the official fine of Rs 12,000 from him and issued a receipt for it, while also taking Rs 25,000 in cash. The unit owner called me after the officer left," Mokariya said, adding, "I then called that officer and told him to return the money, which he did.
"
Mokariya appealed to citizens to not tolerate corruption and to inform representatives or the ACB if anyone demands a bribe, and to not encourage these kinds of officers.
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