Headmaster held for taking teacher’s 50% HRA as bribe

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday evening arrested a school headmaster for allegedly demanding and accepting 50% of a teacher's house rent allowance (HRA) as bribe to clear the allowance bill.The accused — Santosh Babanrao Kadhane (44), headmaster (Group B) of Madhumati Secondary and Higher Secondary School at Lakh in Aundha Nagnath taluka of Hingoli district — was caught red-handed while accepting Rs28,000 from a 35-year-old teacher.According to an ACB official, the complainant had approached the Hingoli ACB unit on Feb 24, 2026, alleging that Kadhane demanded half of the HRA amount credited to his salary.The teacher had received Rs58,120 as annual house rent allowance. The accused wanted Rs29,060 as illegal gratification. He also threatened that if the money was not paid, he would report to the education officer that the teacher was not residing at the headquarters which would lead to the stoppage of the HRA.After receiving the complaint, the ACB verified the bribe demand on Feb 27. During the verification process, Kadhane allegedly agreed to settle the amount at Rs28,000 and indicated that he would personally accept the money.Following confirmation of the demand, the ACB laid a trap on March 5 near Ayan Pan Centre at Khatkali bypass on the Hingoli–Nanded Road. During the operation, Kadhane allegedly accepted the Rs28,000 bribe from the complainant in the presence of panch witnesses after which the ACB team arrested him.A case has been registered against Kadhane at Hingoli City police station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.The complaint has been filed by police inspector of the ACB Hingoli unit Rajesh Malpillu and further investigation is underway.