Baramati town planner arrested for bribery

Pune: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested Vikas Dhekale, a town planner from Baramati, for accepting a bribe. The 50-year-old was taken into custody on Wednesday after he allegedly took Rs 1 lakh from a realtor. The arrest followed a complaint made by the realtor on March 18. The realtor wanted approval for a residential project in Rui village, located in Baramati taluka. Initially, Dhekale asked for Rs 2 lakh, but negotiations brought the amount down to Rs 1.75 lakh. The realtor then reported Dhekale to the ACB. Dhekale later agreed to accept Rs 1 lakh as the first payment. The ACB set up a trap at a gym in Baramati, where they caught Dhekale taking the bribe. A case has been opened against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Inspector Amol Bhosale is in charge of the investigation.