Official of Shri Tulja Bhavani Temple Trust arrested for accepting bribe of Rs 6 lakh

Action by Dharashiv ACB Department

Siddheshwar Shinde

Tuljapur (District Dharashiv) – The Finance and Accounts Officer of Shri Tulja Bhavani Temple Trust, Siddheshwar Shinde, was caught red-handed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) while accepting a bribe of Rs 6 lakh. Shinde had demanded a bribe of Rs 10 lakh, and he was arrested while accepting Rs 6 lakh out of it. He took the bribe to clear the Government dues for the construction of the boundary wall and other works of the ‘Sainik School’ under the Shri Tulja Bhavani Temple Trust.

The complainant is a Government contractor who had been received a contract of Rs 3.88 crore for the construction of the first floor of the administrative building, as well as the entrance gate and security wall of the Shri Tulja Bhavani Sainik Vidyalaya, manage by the Shri Tulja Bhavani Temple Trust. Currently, 90% of the construction work has been completed.

Shinde had scrutinised and approved the bills of over Rs 2 crores for this construction work so far. He had also demanded a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from the complainant to expedite the scrutiny and approval of the remaining bills, as well as to get the security deposit of Rs 34,60,579 refunded. After negotiation, he agreed to accept Rs 6 lakhs and was arrested while accepting the money.

Contact number to report bribe demands

If a public servant or any private person on their behalf is demanding a bribe to do a legal work, please contact [phone] or ‘toll free’ number 1064, the Police appealed.

Editorial Perspective

Beware of the ill-effects of Government takeover of temples.