ACB busted Rs.15 Lakh Bribery Racket; Consultant Arrested

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Thane successfully caught a GST officer and a private tax consultant for accepting a Rs.15 lakh bribe.

The operation, which took place on March 9, 2025, resulted in the arrest of private tax consultant Eknath Pednekar, while the Deputy Commissioner of GST for Palghar, Tatyasaheb Dhere, is now on the run.

The lawsuit began with a complaint made on February 28, 2025, by a 52-year-old businessman. The complainant said that Dhere, through Pednekar, demanded Rs.15 lakh to decrease the GST and penalty levied on his manufacturing company, Santosh Engineering Work.

On March 8, 2025, the ACB verified the complaint and confirmed the bribe demand. A trap was set on March 9, 2025. Pednekar directed the complainant to deliver the bribe money to the Aniruddha Hotel on Chimatpada Road in Andheri, near his office.

Pednekar was caught accepting the bribe, during the operation. He instructed the complainant to place the money under a table while five independent witnesses saw the exchange. Dhere, who was present during the transaction, left the site before being arrested.

Pednekar has been arrested, and an investigation is underway to apprehend Dhere. A complaint is being filed against both of the accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988.

The sting operation was led by Thane ACB Police Inspector Rupali Pol, with supervision from ACB Superintendent of Police Shivraj Patil and Additional Superintendents of Police Sanjay Govilkar and Suhas Shinde.