MCD Officials Arrested for ₹15k Bribe

New Delhi: In a significant development, the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi government arrested a junior engineer and a beldar of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on charges of bribery.

The arrests were made on Tuesday following allegations that the officials had demanded and accepted a bribe of ₹15,000 to facilitate the construction of a residential building in Bhajanpura, northeast Delhi. The case unfolded when a local builder approached the ACB office, identifying himself as a builder working in the Bhajanpura area. He reported that Sudharshan, also known as Rajbir, employed as a beldar in the Shahdara (North) zone of the MCD, had solicited ₹15,000 to expedite the construction of his house. Disturbed by the unethical demand, the complainant sought to resolve the issue through proper channels. However, his efforts to report the demand to Gaurav Garg, the junior engineer overseeing the area, proved futile. According to the ACB, Garg was complicit in the bribery scheme and directed the complainant to comply with Rajbir’s demand for the bribe.

Acting on this information, the ACB swiftly assembled a team to catch the culprits in the act. At 2 pm on Tuesday, the team, accompanied by the complainant, arrived at the predetermined meeting point, a local temple. Rajbir was apprehended by the ACB team while in the act of accepting the bribe money. During the preliminary inquiry, Rajbir confessed that he had demanded the bribe at the behest of the junior engineer. The ACB team then proceeded to Garg’s office in Shahdara to confront him. Garg was unable to provide a valid justification for the bribery demand and was found in possession of ₹50,000 in ₹500 denomination notes, for which he could not account satisfactorily.

The ACB has registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against both Rajbir and Garg. The incident highlights ongoing issues of corruption within municipal bodies and underscores the need for stringent measures to ensure transparency and accountability. The arrests serve as a stark reminder of the pervasive nature of corruption and the importance of vigilance and integrity within public institutions. The ACB’s prompt action in this case demonstrates a robust commitment to rooting out corruption and upholding the rule of law. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has yet to issue an official statement regarding the arrests, but the incident is likely to prompt internal reviews and stricter oversight mechanisms to prevent similar occurrences in the future.