Latest news with #ACB
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Chief inspection officer caught red-handed accepting Rs 1.75 lakh for not acting against gas agency
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday trapped the chief inspection officer, rationing department, while allegedly accepting Rs 1.75 lakh bribe in Mumbai. According to ACB, the accused, Vinayak Vasant Nikam, had sought the same amount per month from a gas agency against whom he had taken action in the past. According to ACB, the complainant works as a manager in a gas agency in Kandivali. His relatives also have a gas agency in Thane. In October 2024, action was taken against the complainant's gas agency by Nikam. In August 2024, action was taken against the gas agency of his relatives in Thane by the rationing department. Thereafter, on July 16, Nikam contacted the complainant on his mobile and asked him to come and meet him in the office. Accordingly, when the complainant met Vinayak Nikam on July 17, he demanded a bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh per month for not taking action against the complainant's gas agency and Rs 1 lakh for not taking action against the gas agency of his relatives, totalling Rs 2.5 lakh per month. When the complainant said he cannot pay that much money and asked for some way out, the accused told him that he would have to talk to 'saheb'. The next day the accused contacted the complainant and said he had spoken to saheb, and asked him to meet him. However, since the complainant did not want to pay the bribe, he appeared in person at the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Worli, Mumbai on July 25 and filed a complaint. The ACB verified the complaint and found it to be genuine. Accordingly, the complainant was asked to meet the accused, and the latter was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 1.75 lakh from the complainant. Accordingly, a case was registered against him, and he was placed under arrest.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
ACB arrests govt official for taking Rs 1.75 lakh bribe
Mumbai, Jul 29 (PTI) The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested an official of the food and civil supplies department while accepting a bribe of Rs 1.75 lakh that he demanded in exchange for not taking action against LPG agencies, officials said on Tuesday. Theofficials recovered cash of Rs 10 lakh from his bag during a search at the office, an official said. Accused Vinayak Vasant Nikam was trapped by the ACB Mumbai at his office in Churchgate area of south Mumbai, he said. Nikam, who was posted as the chief inspection officer of the department, was arrested by the ACB after his role in the crime was established, he said. According to the official, Nikam had taken action against a gas agency owned by the relative of the complainant in August 2024 in Thane and another agency where the complainant was working as a manager in Kandivali in October that year. On July 16, 2025, Nikam called the complainant on his phone and asked the latter to meet him. During their meeting, Nikam demanded Rs 1.5 lakh from the complainant for not taking further action against the gas agency in Thane and Rs 1 lakh from the agency in Kandivali every month. After negotiation, the total amount was reduced to Rs 1.75 lakh, he said. After the verification of his complaint, Nikam was trapped in his office while accepting the bribe, he said. He was placed under arrest for the charges of Prevention of Corruption Act, he said adding that he will be produced before the court on Wednesday. Searches at his residence and other places are underway. PTI DC NP view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 23:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
ACB probe into construction of Barapullah Phase-3 ordered
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Monday ordered a vigilance inquiry into alleged 'irregularities' in the construction of the Barapullah phase-3 elevated corridor. 'The irregularities in the project and the payment of `175 crore to the contractor should be investigated by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB),' a government statement said. CM Rekha Gupta headed an expenditure finance committee meeting along with Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Verma, where the decision was taken for an Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) probe into the matter. Gupta further alleged 'corruption' by the previous Aam Aadmi Party government in the matter of delayed completion of the flyover. According to the government, the elevated road was scheduled for completion in October 2017 but was repeatedly delayed, and eventually the matter went into arbitration. 'The ruling government favoured the contractor with an award of Rs 120 crore. When the payment was withheld, the company approached the high court, which in May 2023 ordered the PWD to pay Rs 175 crore, including interest and GST. The sum was subsequently paid during the tenure of then-PWD minister Atishi,' the government said.
NDTV
a day ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Probe Ordered Into Key Delhi Flyover Project, Rekha Gupta Points Fingers At AAP
Delhi's Barapullah Elevated Road Phase-III project, long overdue and over budget, is back in the spotlight. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday ordered a probe by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) into a Rs 175 crore payout made to the project's contractor, blaming it on "negligence and mismanagement" by the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. The announcement came during a high-level review meeting of the Expenditure Finance Committee at the Delhi Secretariat. CM Gupta pulled up senior officials over the years-long delay and the legal wrangling that forced the government to clear the hefty payment. "This isn't just a case of delay, it's a case of public money being wasted due to inaction. We will hold those responsible to account," the Chief Minister said at the meeting. What Went Wrong The Phase-III corridor was sanctioned in 2011 and construction began in 2015, with a 30-month deadline. The 6.2-kilometre stretch is intended to connect Sarai Kale Khan to Mayur Vihar Phase-III and decongest key traffic corridors between South and East Delhi. But the project soon ran into roadblocks. Work was halted midway, leading to arbitration. In 2023, the Delhi High Court directed the government to pay Rs 175 crore to the contractor, an amount that included interest and GST, after the Public Works Department (PWD) failed to act on earlier offers of settlement. Ms Gupta alleged that the contractor had proposed a settlement of Rs 35 crore, which the AAP government "ignored entirely." "That decision, or the lack of one, cost the city an additional Rs 140 crore. It's unacceptable," she said. The payout was eventually cleared under the tenure of then-PWD Minister Atishi. PWD Also Under Watch CM Gupta didn't limit the blame to political leadership. She said senior officials in the PWD could also come under scrutiny. "There may have been complicity within the department. The ACB will investigate all angles, including the role of officers who failed to act," she said. Despite the ongoing probe, the government has assured that construction will continue. "No more delays will be tolerated. The remaining work must be completed within the revised timeline," CM Gupta told officials. Current Status: 87% Work Done, Final Clearances Pending As per project officials, 87% of the construction is complete. The remaining work is pending environmental clearance for tree removal along the route - a process that is reportedly nearing approval. Once granted, construction is expected to pick up pace. Meanwhile, costs continue to rise. Originally budgeted at Rs 1,260 crore, the project is now estimated at Rs 1,330 crore. Of the Rs 150 crore allocated for this financial year, Rs 86.43 crore has already been spent by June. Project Timeline: 2011: Project approved 2015: Construction begins 2017: Deadline missed 2023: High Court orders ₹175 crore payment 2025: Project 87% complete; ACB probe launched Launched as a much-needed traffic solution, the Barapullah Phase-III project has instead become a cautionary tale of delay, dispute, and administrative failure. Now, with most of the work nearly done and corruption charges under investigation, the project finds itself at a crossroads. Will the BJP-led Delhi government clean up the mess and finally deliver on the promise, or will this become yet another incomplete file in the city's long backlog of unfinished infrastructure?
News18
a day ago
- News18
Bribes, Raids And Hidden Deals: What's Telangana's Big Crackdown On Corruption
Officials say this proactive approach is already yielding results, with a wave of high-profile arrests and public support. GHMC Deputy Commissioner Nabbed Ravikumar, a Deputy Commissioner with the GHMC Rajendranagar Circle, allegedly demanded Rs 5 lakh from a hotel owner, threatening to seize the premises. He accepted Rs 2 lakh and was caught in the act by ACB officials. Labour Department Scam In Mancherial, two Labour Department officials were arrested for demanding bribes from the families of deceased workers. One officer took Rs 50,000 after initially asking for Rs 1.5 lakh, while another demanded Rs 30,000 from a woman in Bellampalli. Park Bribe Busted In a dramatic twist, one official asked for the bribe to be handed over not at the office but in a public park. ACB officials tracked the location and caught the accused red-handed during the handoff. Women Officers Also Under Watch ACB sources revealed that several women government officials are also being investigated. In some cases, bribes are being routed through staffers while the officers build personal wealth in the form of land, gold, and properties. Public Trust Grows, Complaints Rise Citizens across Telangana are stepping forward with confidence, encouraged by quick ACB action and guaranteed anonymity. This shift in sentiment has led to a record number of complaints, surpassing last year's figures well before 2025. Officials say this momentum will continue, sending a strong message across departments: bribe-takers will be exposed, regardless of rank or gender.
