Pune: Lohegaon PSI Caught Taking ₹80,000 Bribe Inside Police Station; ACB Launches Probe
ACB Cracks Down On Corruption: CIDCO Additional Collector Caught Accepting ₹22,000 Bribe In Navi Mumbai
Pune, May 2, 2026: A Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) at Lohegaon Police Station has been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Pune for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹80,000 from a businessman related to a non-cognizable (NC) case.
The accused, Manoj Madhukar Baste, 38, is a Class-II PSI and lives in Ganga Kalash Society in the Kalas-Dhanori area.
According to ACB officials, a 39-year-old businessman approached the agency on April 30, 2026. He claimed that the officer had asked for money to help him with a case registered at Lohegaon Police Station. The officer also allegedly promised assistance with future police matters.
During a preliminary inquiry with independent witnesses, investigators found that the initial demand of ₹70,000 was later raised to ₹80,000. The accused reportedly stated that he would share the money with senior officials.
Following the complaint, the ACB set up a trap on the evening of May 1 at the police station. The officer was caught allegedly taking the bribe amount from the complainant in front of witnesses.
He was taken into custody immediately, and a case has been filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
This incident has raised significant concerns within the police department since the alleged transaction occurred inside a police station. Authorities are now looking into whether other personnel were involved, especially after the accused suggested that part of the money was meant for others.
