Pune: Sanjay Gunjal, Deputy Director and Acting Joint Director of the Horticulture Department under the Agriculture Commissionerate, was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) late Friday (January 10) night for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹2.5 lakh.

The bribe was demanded from a suspended junior clerk in exchange for assistance regarding a misconduct inquiry and to resolve objections raised against the employee.

The complainant, a junior clerk in Jalgaon Jamod, Buldhana, during 2019-2020, had been suspended by the Joint Director of Agriculture in Amravati for alleged irregularities and negligence under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchan Yojana.

During the suspension period, Gunjal allegedly demanded ₹3 lakh from the suspended employee to provide assistance during the inquiry and help address objections raised in the case. Following negotiations, the complainant agreed to pay ₹2.5 lakh and filed a complaint with the ACB’s Pune office.

The complaint was verified by Superintendent of Police Shirish Sardeshpande, who found it credible. A trap was set, and the operation was executed on Friday night. Gunjal called the complainant to a private bus stop in the Sangamwadi area to deliver the bribe. The ACB team apprehended Gunjal red-handed while accepting ₹2.5 lakh in cash.

Following the operation, a case was registered against Gunjal under the Prevention of Corruption Act at Yerawada Police Station. The case is being investigated by Police Inspector Pravin Nimbalkar under the guidance of Superintendent Sardeshpande and Additional SP Vijay Pawar.