In a significant anti-corruption operation, the Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a police inspector on Friday for allegedly accepting an Apple iPhone 16 Pro, valued at ₹1.44 lakh, as a bribe from a fuel dealer. This incident is part of a wider crackdown on corruption involving public officials across India, with similar bribery cases emerging in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
The arrested officer, Dinesh Kubavat, a police inspector at the Marine Police Station in Dholai Port, Navsari district, was apprehended in a sting operation after he was caught red-handed accepting the latest Apple smartphone from the complainant. The complainant, a licensed dealer of Light Diesel Oil (LDO), alleged that Kubavat had threatened to shut down his business unless a bribe was paid.
According to ACB officials, Kubavat had asked the fuel dealer to meet him at the police station with business-related documents, including the dealer’s license. During the meeting, Kubavat reportedly demanded the bribe under the threat of closure. The ACB’s Navsari unit had set up a trap in Kubavat’s police chamber, leading to his arrest.
Kubavat’s alleged actions highlight the ongoing problem of corruption within public institutions. The bribe, in the form of a high-end Apple iPhone 16 Pro, underscores how individuals in positions of power use their authority to demand substantial gifts or money from those seeking official favor.
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In a related development, a doctor in Jhabua district, Madhya Pradesh was also caught up in a bribery case. Dr. Arpit Kumar Nayak, a medical officer at a community health center, allegedly demanded a ₹50,000 bribe to release the post-mortem report of a man who had drowned. After negotiations, the amount was reduced to ₹40,000, but the bribe was never paid. A trap set by local authorities failed when Nayak became suspicious and refused to accept the money.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Praveen Singh Baghel, the accused was involved in extorting money from the family of the drowning victim for a routine post-mortem report a critical document required by law enforcement. The bribery attempt was investigated after a complaint was filed by the victim’s family, leading to Nayak’s subsequent booking.
Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a railway official, SSE P.Way, Truck Depot, Indian Railways in Gonda for demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹50,000. The official allegedly requested the amount in exchange for processing official paperwork for the complainant. The CBI conducted a sting operation and arrested the official in the act of accepting the bribe, marking yet another example of corruption within government services.
These incidents reflect the widespread issue of corruption among public officials across different sectors in India. While the Anti-Corruption Bureau has stepped up efforts to tackle such crimes, officials argue that these cases are only the tip of the iceberg. The demand for bribes, ranging from high-end electronics like an Apple iPhone to money for routine medical procedures or official paperwork, highlights the urgent need for more robust systems of accountability within public services.
Governments have long been attempting to curb corruption through anti-bribery laws, sting operations, and regular vigilance, but these cases indicate that much work remains to be done to eradicate systemic corruption in government departments.
As authorities continue to investigate these bribery cases, it remains clear that there is a pressing need for more stringent monitoring and transparency measures in both public and private sectors. Strengthening whistleblower protection, increasing digitalization of public services, and improving the accountability of government officials could go a long way toward curbing corruption at all levels.
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