The Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) apprehended the husband of Untadi Gram Panchayat’s sarpanch and the village’s deputy sarpanch in Surendranagar district. The arrests were made in connection with a Rs 5 lakh bribery case related to sand extraction permission. Sanjay Kamejaliya, 35, was caught accepting the bribe at Premvati Bhojanalay near Limbdi highway crossroads.
The ACB revealed that a vigilant citizen reported the bribery attempt after refusing to comply with the demands. Sanjay Kamejaliya, identified as the sarpanch’s husband, and Sunil Katudiya, the deputy sarpanch, were the accused individuals. Initially, Kamejaliya demanded Rs 1,000 per truck for sand extraction in Untadi village.
Despite the complainant’s offer of a charitable donation instead of a bribe, both accused persisted on the payment. The demand eventually decreased to Rs 5 lakh after negotiations. The ACB successfully recovered the full amount during the operation, which involved a pre-arranged conversation and cash exchange.
The bureau stated that Kamejaliya contacted Katudiya post-bribe acceptance, leading to the latter’s arrest. Allegations include the misuse of public office by Katudiya and joint involvement in the offense. These arrests are part of a series of recent ACB actions in Gujarat, including trapping police personnel in Bharuch district and apprehending hospital staff in Surendranagar.
