Pune: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against a forest guard for demanding a bribe from a local resident, threatening to file a case over the repair of a road passing through forest department land.
The accused forest guard, Ulhas Dattatray More, demanded ₹10,000 to not file the case, but later agreed to accept ₹6,000 before fleeing during the ACB’s sting operation.
The complainant, a 30-year-old resident, had been using a road passing through the forest department’s land to access his house for years. After heavy rains caused damage to the road, the complainant repaired it by laying gravel at his own expense.
However, Ulhas More, who is attached to the Bhigwan Circle Office of the Indapur Forest Department, objected to the use of forest land for the repairs.
He threatened to file a case against the complainant unless he was paid ₹10,000. The complainant approached the ACB, which conducted a verification on August 23, where the demand was reduced to ₹6,000.
More called the complainant to Hotel Bhakti Shakti on Bhigwan-Solapur Road to collect the money. The ACB set up a trap, but the forest guard became aware of the operation and fled the scene.
Although he escaped, the bribe demand was confirmed, and a case has now been registered against him at the Bhigwan Police Station.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Shirish Sardeshpande and Deputy Superintendent of Police Dr. Sheetal Janve. Inspector Prasad Lonare is leading the investigation into the matter.
