A head clerk in the Shirur Sub-Divisional Office in Pune and a middleman were caught red-handed on Monday by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) while accepting a bribe of ₹1.6 lakh as the first instalment for allocating plots to Temghar Dam-affected families.

The arrested accused have been identified as Sujata Manohar Badade, a head clerk, Sub-Divisional Office, Shirur, and Tanaji Shripati Marne, a private individual from Indiranagar, Upper Bibwewadi.

According to police, the duo had demanded ₹4 lakh in total to approve land allocation proposals of eight individuals whose land was acquired for the construction of the Temghar Dam.

Regarding the matter, a 39-year-old victim had informed the police. The victim had been allotted agricultural land and plots for housing in Vitthalwadi, Shirur taluka as compensation for his land loss. However, the proposal for land allocation for the rest of the family members was under the control of Badade.

As per the information, initially, Badade demanded ₹50,000 per proposal, which amounted to ₹4 lakh for eight proposals. However, later she agreed to ₹40,000 each for approval. She instructed the complainant to pay the amount to Marne.

However, the complainant approached the ACB office. Acting on the tip, ACB officials laid a trap at the Shirur Sub-divisional Office on February 10. Marne was caught red-handed while accepting ₹1.6 lakh as the first instalment. Following this, Badade was also arrested.

A case has been registered at Bund Garden Police Station under the relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Meanwhile, speaking to The Free Press Journal, Dayanand Gawade, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Anti-Corruption Bureau), said, "The suspects have been arrested and will be produced in the court. Further investigation is underway and soon the other involved people will be arrested."