Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
In a major anti-corruption action, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday caught permanent municipal employee Rupchand Bankar (47) red-handed while accepting Rs 27,500 from 50 construction workers at the corporation’s Zone 6 office. The workers were allegedly forced to pay Rs 550 each for mandatory certificates under a welfare scheme that is officially free.
The complainant, a labour union president assisting workers in availing government schemes, had completed online registrations and applied for certificates two days earlier. The scheme requires proof of 90 days of construction work in the previous year and carries no prescribed fee. However, Bankar allegedly demanded Rs 550 per certificate, totalling Rs 27,500, and stalled the process, prompting the complainant to approach ACB Superintendent Madhuri Kangane on April 1. On her instructions, Deputy Superintendent Sangita S. Patil verified the complaint and laid a trap after confirming the demand. After the complainant informed Bankar that he had brought the money, Bankar asked him to wait outside. Upon accepting the cash, the complainant signalled the team as pre-decided. The ACB squad including Sachin Barse, Rameshwar Gore, Deepak Egale and Rameshwar Tate immediately apprehended Bankar. A case has been registered at the Cidco police station. Bankar allegedly told the complainant that the money had to be passed on “up to Saheb,” raising questions about possible higher-level involvement. The ACB has gathered related evidence. Despite the scheme providing 30 household utensils and a safety kit free of cost, workers were allegedly charged Rs 1,000 for certificates and kits. The issue with video evidence, but authorities had reportedly ignored it.