Pune: A medical officer from the Talegaon Dabhade Primary Health Center has been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for allegedly accepting a ₹5,000 bribe in exchange for issuing a medical certificate. A 35-year-old complainant approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau after facing a demand for a bribe from Dr. Unmesh Sopan Gutte (54).
The issue began when the complainant’s friend, Abhishek, needed to obtain a power of attorney document for his father, who was bedridden due to a brain hemorrhage. According to legal requirements, both Abhishek and his father were required to be physically present at the Registrar’s Office to process the power of attorney.
However, since Abhishek’s father was unable to move, the Registrar’s Office asked for a government-issued medical certificate verifying his condition. To obtain this certificate, the complainant visited Dr. Gutte at the Talegaon Dabhade Primary Health Center. Instead of issuing the document as per procedure, Dr. Gutte allegedly demanded ₹5,000.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau was alerted on March 17, and a verification process was conducted on March 18. After confirming the demand for a bribe, the ACB set up a trap at the health center.
Dr. Gutte was nabbed while accepting the bribe from the complainant and was immediately taken into custody. A case has been registered at Talegaon Dabhade Police Station, and further investigations are ongoing. The operation was carried out under the guidance of Superintendent of Police Shirish Sardeshpande and Additional Superintendent of Police Dr. Sheetal Janve. Inspector Vijay Pawar is leading the investigation.
