PCMC chief engineer Pramod Onbhase sent to Yerawada jail in bribery case

Pimpri: Pramod Onbhase, chief engineer of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, who was arrested on charges of taking a bribe from a contractor, has been sent to Yerawada jail. After his one-day police custody ended, the court ordered him held in judicial custody for 14 days. The information was given by Satish Walke, Deputy Superintendent of Police with the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

The case relates to a contractor's works with the corporation. It is alleged that Onbhase demanded a bribe for signing the files for the contractor's works and for processing his bills. It is stated that Rs 45,785 was initially demanded, after which the matter was settled and an amount agreed. The contractor complained to the Anti-Corruption Bureau that Onbhase accepted Rs 19,000. This is the contractor's complaint, and the charge against Onbhase.

After receiving the complaint, the bureau first looked into it. Once the complaint was verified, a bureau team laid a trap and acted against Onbhase. He was arrested and produced in court. At that time, the court had granted one day of police custody for investigation.

When the police custody ended, Onbhase was brought before the court again. This time the court ordered him sent to judicial custody for 14 days. Following this order, he was taken to Yerawada jail.

The action against an officer in such a senior post of the corporation is much discussed in administrative circles. Even so, it is clear that the allegations against Onbhase have not yet been proved. The Anti-Corruption Bureau is conducting further investigation into the case.