Gujarat : Forest Officer Arrested by Anti-Corruption Bureau in Bribery Case

Surat : Sarfaraz Ghanchi, the Range Forest Officer (RFO) stationed in Netrang taluka within the Bharuch district, Gujarat was apprehended by the Vadodara division of the Anti-Corruption Bureau. The arrest was made in connection with allegations of accepting a bribe amounting to Rs 5 lakh from a complainant along the Ankleshwar-Netrang highway.

The complaint against Ghanchi, who oversees the Netrang range, was raised by an individual involved in the business of garden nursery and construction. This individual had secured a tender from the forest department for a project in Bharuch and Netrang back in 2022. Subsequent to the completion of the construction work, a bill of Rs 1.40 crore was submitted to the forest department in Bharuch, requiring approval from Sarfaraz Ghanchi for clearance.

It was reported that Ghanchi had allegedly demanded Rs 25 lakh for the final approval of the bill payment. Following negotiations, the complainant agreed to the deal, initially providing Rs 10 lakh in cash to the accused, with a condition to pay the remaining Rs 15 lakh in three installments.

However, discontent with the demand for the additional sum, the complainant opted to report the matter to the ACB Vadodara range, declining to pay the remaining Rs 15 lakh. Responding to the complaint, the Anti-Corruption Bureau team, under the leadership of PH Bhesania, the assistant director, orchestrated a strategic trap for the accused RFO along the Ankleshwar-Netrang highway.

During the operation, the RFO was caught red-handed by ACB sleuths as he accepted Rs 5 lakh from the complainant, leading to his immediate arrest.