Gujarat ACB catches two drug officials allegedly accepting Rs 40,000 bribe

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Two officials of Gujarat's Food and Drugs Department, including an Assistant Commissioner, were caught by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) while allegedly accepting Rs 40,000 in connection with the processing of a new wholesale drug licence in Bharuch on Tuesday.

The accused have been identified as 54-year-old Prakashbhai Posnani, Assistant Commissioner of the Food and Drugs Department in Bharuch, a Class-I officer, and 29-year-old Surbhiben Desai, a Drug Inspector and Assistant Commissioner in the department, a Class-II officer.

"Both were caught during a trap at the Assistant Commissioner's chamber at the Food and Drugs Control Administration office in Bharuch," officials said. According to the ACB, the complainant, described as a "vigilant citizen", had applied for a new wholesale licence for medicines.

During the processing of the application, Desai allegedly told the complainant that the licence procedure would be completed but that Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 would have to be paid to the senior official. Unwilling to pay the alleged bribe, the complainant approached the Narmada ACB Police Station.

Based on the complaint, the ACB arranged a trap at the Bharuch office on August 18. During the operation, Posnani and Desai allegedly accepted Rs 40,000 from the complainant.

The ACB subsequently recovered the entire amount. The bureau alleged that the two officials misused their positions as public servants and committed criminal misconduct by accepting the money.

The trap was conducted by D D Vasava, Police Inspector at Narmada ACB Police Station, under the supervision of B M Patel, In-charge Assistant Director of the ACB's Vadodara unit. Baldev Desai, Deputy Director, ACB Vadodara, was the officer in charge of the operation.

The ACB's action follows the complaint against the officials and the alleged demand for money linked to the issuance of a wholesale drug licence. The two accused face further legal proceedings related to the trap.

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