Mumbai: In a major crackdown on corruption within the police force, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Mumbai arrested Senior Police Inspector Bapurao Madhukar Deshmukh, 57, head of the Shivaji Nagar Police Station, on Tuesday night. He was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from a school trustee at his own police station. This amount was reportedly part of a larger Rs 2.5 lakh bribe that he had allegedly demanded for providing police protection and assistance in a legal matter.
Details On The Case Which Led To Corruption
According to the ACB, the complainant is a 41-year-old trustee of a school located in the Shivaji Nagar area. The issue dates back to August 15, 2024, when a group allegedly broke open the lock of the school gate and forcibly entered the premises over a property-related dispute. The trustee had approached the Shivaji Nagar police station to file a complaint and had also submitted the matter to the Charity Commissioner.
Seeking official police assistance to prevent further intrusions and to safeguard the school until the Charity Commissioner passed a final order, the trustee approached Inspector Deshmukh. However, instead of providing legitimate police support, Deshmukh allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 3 lakh to ensure police protection and to prevent the opposing group from accessing the premises.
After some negotiation, the bribe was brought down to Rs 2.5 lakh. Unwilling to pay for lawful services, the trustee approached the ACB and lodged a complaint. Following a verification process, the ACB set up a trap and nabbed Deshmukh while accepting the first instalment of Rs 1 lakh at his office on Tuesday night.
Accused Cop To Be Produced In Court Today
Deshmukh, a Class I officer with just a year left until retirement, was arrested under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He will be produced in court on Wednesday. The operation was conducted under the guidance of ACB Additional Commissioner Sandeep Diwan, with supervision from Additional DCPs Anil Gherdikar and Rajendra Sangale.
According to the report quoting an ACB source, further inquiry will also examine Deshmukh’s assets to determine if he owns property disproportionate to his known sources of income. The case has however sparked renewed concerns about corruption at senior levels in the police force.
