Pune: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Pune unit, on Thursday submitted to the court that the role of Pune deputy director (land records) is being probed in the Rs 1.7 crore bribe case. Meanwhile, the special court remanded the arrested lawyer, Rohit Shende, in police custody till December 31.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Suhas Nadgouda told the court that Shende had accepted the money claiming it is  for the deputy director.  The complainant in the case is also a lawyer who has the power of attorney for land, estimated to be worth Rs 100 crore, at Parvati. Shende had demanded a bribe of Rs 2 crore from the complainant for getting him a favourable order from the deputy director, where the land dispute is pending. Even before the order in the case was to be pronounced, officials from the deputy director office and Shende discussed its content with the complainant. The complaint was lodged on November 22 and since then the ACB sleuths were working on the case. 

Finally around 7 pm on Wednesday, Shende agreed for Rs 1.7 crore and he was caught while accepting the amount red handed. ACB  officials had used  Rs 5 lakh in real notes and Rs 1.65 crore in dummy notes. An FIR has been registered against Shende with Bundgarden police station for offences under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.