Pune Woman’s Tip Leads to ACB Action Against Judge Demanding Rs 5 Lakh Bribe

Satara/Pune, 11th December 2024: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Pune, has caught an Additional Sessions Judge red-handed for demanding a bribe of Rs 5 lakh in exchange for a favourable decision. A case has also been registered against three individuals who facilitated the bribe. The action was carried out between 3rd December and 9th December after a woman from Pune tipped off the ACB, as the bribe would have resulted in a decision against her father.

A 24-year-old woman from Khadki, Pune, filed a complaint with the ACB and later with the Satara City Police Station. A case has been registered against Additional Sessions Judge Satara Dhananjay Laxmanrao Nikam, Kishore Sambhaji Kharat, Anand Mohan Kharat, and an unidentified individual. The charges include relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988, as well as a provision under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for acts committed by multiple individuals in furtherance of a common intention.

According to information provided by Deputy Superintendent of Police Dayanand Gawade, the father of the complainant had a case registered against him for fraud at the Satara City Police Station on 26th October. He was arrested and is currently in judicial custody. He had applied for bail at the District and Sessions Court, Satara, and the matter was under the jurisdiction of Additional Sessions Judge Nikam. To ensure the bail was denied, the other accused allegedly offered a bribe of Rs 5 lakh to Judge Nikam. The ACB was alerted to the incident and laid a trap, successfully catching the accused.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Anil Katake is conducting further investigations into the matter. This operation was carried out under the guidance of Pune ACB Superintendent of Police Shirish Sardeshpande and Additional Superintendent of Police Dr. Sheetal Janve.