Navi Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai Anti-Corruption Bureau Team (ACB) put a trap and arrested two red forest guards bound to the range of Thane forests, while accepting RS 3.50 lakh bribes in the name of Forester from the site demolition supervisor at City Mall in Sector 19, Vashi on Tuesday night.
On Monday, the defendant Forester Sanjay Pawar (55) from the range of Thane Forest Range and the two forest guards Deepak Verma (35) and Amit Rane (39) have visited Mal City where demolition work is underway.
They serve the notification to the site supervisor by stating that demolition is being carried out without permission from the National Wildlife Council and the Ministry of Forestry because the site is below the environmental sensitive zone within 10 km from the Flamingo National Sanctuary Thane Creek limit.
The trio accusation was then allegedly demanded bribery Rs 5 lakh from the site supervisor because it did not take legal action.
After negotiations, they settled with a bribe of Rs 3.50 lakh.
After the site’s supervisor filed a complaint at the ACB Navi Mumbai office against three forest officials, the ACB team led by Police Inspector Shivraj Bendre verified when it was confirmed that the two Verma and Rane forest guards had settled for RS bribery requests.
3.50 lakh for themselves and forester pawars.
They also demanded RS 25,000 bribes to be paid by the supervisor every month later.
Jyoti Deshmukh, Deputy SP from Navi Mumbai ACB said, “The trap was placed to be accused on Tuesday night in the 17 sector, Vashi where we had told the complainant to give up the required bribery.
Around 5pm, Forest Pawar and Forest Guard Verma Arrested With a red hand while accepting bribery Rs 3.50 lakh from the complainant.
Forest guards accused of the third arrested from the APMC market on the same day.
Three defendants have been returned in ACB detention until October 16.
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