In a late-night operation, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) caught a Revenue Assistant from the Collector’s Office red-handed while accepting Rs 5 lakh bribe at his residence in Nandanvan area. The accused has been identified as Naresh Sadhuraoji Barve (54), a resident of Nandanvan Layout. He had allegedly demanded the bribe to clear an appeal related to construction on a Nazul plot located in the Shivaji Nagar area of Mahal. The matter was pending before the Additional Collector’s Office. According to officials, the complainant had approached Barve for help in resolving the case. However, Barve kept delaying the process.

 

When the complainant questioned the delay, Barve allegedly demanded Rs 5 lakh to move the file forward. Unwilling to pay, the complainant approached the ACB and lodged a complaint. The ACB conducted verification on April 17 and 20, during which it was confirmed that Barve was indeed demanding a bribe. Based on this, a trap was planned. Barve reportedly asked the complainant to bring money to his house on Friday night.

 

At around 11.30 pm, the complainant reached Barve’s residence with the cash. “As soon as he accepted the Rs 5 lakh, our team moved in and caught him on the spot,” an ACB official said. The entire amount was recovered from his possession during the search. Following the arrest, the ACB team also searched Barve’s residence and seized several documents, which are now being examined as part of the investigation. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act is being registered against Barve at Nandanvan Police Station. Under the guidance of ACB SP Dr Digambar Pradhan, Addl SPs Madhuri Baviskar and Vijay Mahulkar, the action was made by DySP Bharati Gurnule, PI Vivek Padghan and staff including Vilin Tambde, Bharat Thakur, Swati Hindoria, Dipali Bhagat, Vikesh Raut, and Officer Harshlata Bharadkar.