Asst electrical inspector in Gandhinagar caught taking ₹50k bribe

Ahmedabad: An assistant electrical inspector posted at Udyog Bhavan in Gandhinagar was caught red-handed taking Rs 50,000 bribe from a fire safety systems contractor. Based on the contractor’s complaint, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday laid a trap and caught Manish Rawal, 53, accepting the cash, which, police said, was part of a Rs 5 lakh bribe he had allegedly demanded to approve certificates and NOCs. As part of the decoy, the complainant told the accused he would pay Rs 50,000 as the first installment on Monday.

ACB officers said the complainant’s work relates to installing passive fire systems at building projects. They added project owners routinely submit passive fire system certificates before the office of the electrical inspector for validation and NOCs.

A team from ACB laid a trap near a bus stand close to Gha-2 Circle in Gandhinagar. Officials said the accused held a “purposeful conversation” with the complainant before allegedly accepting the Rs 50,000, following which he was arrested. The entire amount was recovered from the accused, officials said.

Further investigation in the case is underway.