A tout has been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) at Govandi on Sunday for allegedly trying to extort a garage owner on behest of a senior licence inspector with the BMC. The accused, Shaikh Rahim, 34, is a resident of Shivaji Nagar. According to ACB officials, Shaikh who runs hand carts was arrested after a complaint was filed by the victim, Pandurang Durgude, who owns a garage at Govandi.
“Durgude was being harassed by Ramesh Salve, senior inspector with the BMC Licence department,” said an ACB official, on condition of anonymity. “Salve used to visit Durgude’s garage and threaten him that he would cancel his shop’s licence if he did not pay up.”
Salve works with the M-Ward at Chembur. “Salve demanded Rs5,000 and a monthly bribe of Rs500, which Durgude refused,” the official added. “But Salve continued to harass him.”
Frustrated, Durgude registered a complaint with the ACB on Saturday. The tout was nabbed when he came to collect the money on behest of Salve.
“We will send our team to Salve’s residence at Ulhasnagar to arrest him,” said Vilas Tupe, additional deputy commissioner of police (ACB). Salve had been arrested by the ACB in 2002 for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs300, but was acquitted. The ACB had filed an appeal in the HC, and the case is pending.
