PCMC chief engineer sent to one-day police custody in Rs 19,000 bribery case

A chief engineer of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) was sent to one day in police custody by the Pimpri court on Friday. He was arrested on the charge of demanding a bribe of Rs 19,000 in connection with a Rs 38 lakh tender of the water supply department.

The accused has been identified as Pramod Sudhakar Ombhase (57). He lives in the Pradhikaran area of Nigdi. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested him on Thursday on the complaint of a 57-year-old contractor. During verification, the ACB found that Ombhase had allegedly demanded the bribe.

Ombhase was produced in court on Friday. The ACB sought three days of police custody there. The agency told the court that samples of the accused's voice had to be taken and matched against a recorded conversation between Ombhase and the complainant. The investigators also want to find out whether any other officer or employee was involved in the alleged bribery.

The court, however, granted one day of police custody instead of three. Ombhase will be produced in court again on Saturday.

The ACB searched Ombhase's three-storey bungalow in Nigdi. It has been reported that Rs 1.25 lakh in cash, 25 tolas of gold jewellery and three vehicles were found there. ACB Deputy Superintendent of Police Satish Walke said the total value of all of these, including the bungalow, has been estimated at about Rs 2.19 crore.

Meanwhile, the ACB has summoned three PCMC employees for questioning on Saturday. They include a deputy city engineer of the water supply department, a clerk who handled five related works, and a peon attached to Ombhase's office.

PCMC administration department Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Khot said the three have been asked to appear at the ACB office in Pune at 10 am on Saturday.