RTO officer who complained against corruption held for bribery in Nagpur

RTO Officer Implicated in Bribery After Reporting Corruption

RTO officer who complained against corruption - In Nagpur, an RTO motor vehicle inspector, who previously reported corruption to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, has now been implicated in a bribery scandal, according to the ACB. The case involves alleged misconduct at a border checkpoint, highlighting the irony of the officer’s own involvement.

Bribery Allegations at Khursapar Checkpost

Shende, a Motor Vehicle Inspector stationed at the Nagpur Rural Regional Transport Office, was reportedly found to have collected illicit funds at the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh border checkpost in Khursapar. The ACB stated that his presence at the site during the incident was key to the investigation.

On June 10, a truck owner approached the ACB, accusing officials and private individuals under their authority at Khursapar of demanding ₹500 to allow his vehicle to pass. Fearing another bribe upon re-crossing the checkpoint, he filed the complaint. The ACB’s probe later revealed that Praveen Baburao Gaidhane, an individual linked to the site, had accepted the payment.

"Gaidhane accepted a bribe of ₹500 for allowing a truck to pass through the RTO checkpost. The act was reportedly prompted by Motor Vehicle Inspector Sajan Shaligramji Shende," the ACB stated.

Earlier, on March 30, a group of 20 MVIs, including Shende, had submitted a memorandum to the ACB, citing widespread corruption within the RTO. This followed the initial allegations, which had prompted the agency’s scrutiny. During the investigation, authorities also recovered ₹47,000 in cash from the checkpoint, confirming the scale of the alleged misconduct.

Both Shende and Gaidhane have been taken into custody and charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the ACB added. The case underscores the internal challenges of accountability within the RTO system, even as officials report wrongdoing.