Bhilad RTO, clerks held by ACB

The Regional Transport Officer (RTO) and two clerks of Bhilad check-post in Valsad district have been nabbed by Anti Corruption Bureau officers of Gandhinagar, while accepting bribe from a truck driver, on Saturday.

According to information, Dilip Ahir and Prakash Salkar, both posted as clerks at Bhilad check-post, and Dharmendrasinh Chudasma, posted as the RTO, were nabbed by ACB officers while accepting bribe from a truck driver of Porbandar-based Trishul Transport.

Sources said that the two clerks demanded hundred rupees from the driver, while he was passing through the check-post in the truck. The ACB officers, who were also travelling in the truck, nabbed the two clerks red-handed while accepting the money from the driver.

During interrogation, the two clerks disclosed before ACB officers that they were collecting the money illegally from the truck drivers as per the instructions of RTO Chudasma.

Based on the statement of the two clerks, the ACB officers also arrested Chudasma. Unaccounted cash of over Rs. 30,000 were also seized from the RTO's office, sources said.

RTO Chudasma and the two clerks were booked under various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act, even as the case was handed over to Valsad ACB, sources said.

Sources also said that the trap was laid by Gandhinagar ACB, following complaints that corruption was widely rampant at Bhilad check-post.

There were complaints that money was being illegally collected from the truck drivers at the check-post, which incidentally is the check-post that generates the highest revenue in the entire state.

Sources further said that Chudasma was posted at the Bhilad check-post less than one year back. Since then, the revenue generated by the check-post had jumped several times.

The check-post had generated revenue of over Rs. 6 crore in the month of May, sources added.