Pune Crime Branch Officer Accused of Demanding Rs 5 Lakh Bribe, FIR Registered
Khadki, 14th October 2024: A police officer from the Crime Branch of Pune City Police has been accused of soliciting a bribe worth Rs 5 lakhs. The officer allegedly asked the complainant for the bribe, claiming that his friend, who was accused of fraud, would be arrested for colluding with the accused if the bribe was not paid. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) laid a trap and intervened to stop this arrangement. This action took place at the office of Crime Branch Unit 3 in Range Hills, Khadki.
A 43-year-old man reported this situation to the Pune unit of the ACB. A case has been registered against Assistant Sub Inspector Santosh Suryakant Kshirsagar, who is posted in Crime Branch Unit 3, Range Hills.
According to information provided by Deputy Superintendent of Police, ACB, Dayanand Gawade, a case was registered against Tanaji Shelar with Pune Police regarding fraud. In this context, ASI Kshirsagar allegedly asked the complainant for a Rs 5 lakh bribe, claiming to be acting on behalf of Police Inspector Bahirat, in exchange for not arresting the complainant for collusion with Shelar.
The complainant reported this to the ACB, Pune. On 21st May, instead of the full Rs 5 lakh, Kshirsagar was caught with Rs 2 lakh, while the remaining amount was compromised. The ACB has completed its investigation, and a case has been registered against ASI Kshirsagar at Khadki Police Station. Deputy Superintendent of Police Anil Katake conducted the investigation.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of ACB Pune Zone’s Superintendent of Police Shirish Deshpande and Additional Superintendent of Police Dr. Sheetal Janave. The trap team included Deputy Superintendent of Police Sudam Pachorkar and Police Constables Chandrakant Jadhav, Ankush Mane, Chetan Kumbhar, and Pandurang Mali, all from ACB, Pune.
