Pune: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Pune has taken action against two police officials from Vadgaon Maval Police Station, Pune Rural, for demanding and accepting a bribe.

The accused officials are Assistant Police Sub-Inspector Sunil Tulshidas Magar, aged 55, and Police Constable Sagar Kailas Gadekar, aged 34. Both have been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The incident unfolded when a criminal case against the complainant was under investigation by Sunil Magar at Vadgaon Maval Police Station. Allegedly, to influence the investigation favorably, Magar, along with Constable Gadekar, demanded a bribe of ₹50,000 from the complainant.

In response, the complainant reported the incident to the ACB Pune, prompting an official inquiry.

During a sting operation conducted in the presence of independent witnesses on September 4, 2024, it was verified that both Magar and Gadekar had solicited a bribe from the complainant.

After negotiations, the bribe amount was settled at ₹35,000, which the officials accepted from the complainant at the new Vadgaon Maval Police Station building around 7:00 PM.

Subsequently, both were apprehended on the spot, and the process of registering a formal case against them is underway.

The investigation into this case is being led by Police Inspector Shriram Shinde of ACB Pune, under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Shirish Sardeshpande and Additional Superintendent of Police Dr. Sheetal Janve.

The ACB Pune has urged the public to report any similar instances of corruption, where public servants or their intermediaries demand illegal fees, through their official helpline numbers, WhatsApp, email, or the ACB Maharashtra website.