The Maharashtra Anti Corruption Bureau on Thursday arrested a Class I officer with the Maharashtra Home Department for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe from a Jalna native in exchange for expediting his son’s recruitment to the Maharashtra police force. Officials said the accused had already taken Rs. 15,000 from the complainant, and was demanding a further Rs. 10,000.
According to ACB officials, the accused has been identified as Sanjay Khedekar, a Deputy Secretary with the Home Department. Investigating officers said the complainant’s son had been selected in the Jalna police recruitment in 2014. However, the recruiters later learned that he had been booked in a criminal case by the Jalna police in 2011, and hence did not allow him to join the force.
An ACB officer said, “Last year, the complainant’s son was acquitted from the case registered against him following which the complainant approached the Home Department and requested that his son be inducted into the force. His file reached Khedekar’s desk and had been pending for months. The complainant was in touch with Khedekar to follow up on his request. Around two-and-a-half months ago, when the complainant met Khedekar at his office in Mantralaya, Khedekar demanded Rs. 20,000 in exchange for expediting the process.” Over the next two months, the complainant allegedly paid Rs. 15,000 in two instalments. However, when the complainant met Khedekar on Wednesday, he demanded a further sum of Rs. 10,000 and refused to clear the complainant’s request unless he received the money. The complainant then approached the ACB.
On Thursday afternoon, in a trap laid by the ACB, Khedekar was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting Rs. 5,000 from the complainant outside Mantralaya and was arrested. He has been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Searches are under way at his office and residence.
