Gujarat ACB traps 3 Bharuch cops accepting ₹1 lakh bribe for phone return
Synopsis
A citizen refused to pay a ₹3 lakh bribe demanded by two Bharuch cops to get his own phone back — and instead walked into the ACB's office. The resulting sting caught three police personnel red-handed, adding to a growing list of Gujarat police bribery cases in just the past few weeks.
Key Takeaways
Three police personnel — Aniruddh Dhadhal , Jaydeepsinh Parmar , and Sagar Chavda — were caught in an ACB trap in Bharuch on 14 July .
The bribe of ₹1 lakh (first instalment of an alleged ₹3 lakh demand) was for returning a mobile phone seized in a Prohibition Act case.
Chavda was caught accepting the cash at a chamber near Panoli police station ; all three are alleged to have acted in collusion.
Earlier in July, an ACB trap netted a constable in Mehsana for a ₹80,000 bribe; in June, two officers at Bopal police station, Ahmedabad were arrested for a ₹5 lakh bribe.
The cases point to a pattern of bribery involving seized property and pending complaints at Gujarat police stations.
Three police personnel posted in Bharuch district, Gujarat, were caught in an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) trap on Tuesday, 14 July while allegedly accepting a ₹1 lakh bribe to return a mobile phone seized during a prohibition case. The operation, conducted at the 'D' Staff chamber near Panoli police station, marks the latest in a string of ACB actions against Gujarat police in recent weeks.
How the Trap Was Laid
The complainant, described by the ACB as a vigilant citizen, had been booked under the Prohibition Act at Panoli police station and subsequently sent to sub-jail. After securing bail, he returned to the station to retrieve his confiscated mobile phone.
According to the complaint, Assistant Head Constables Aniruddh Dhadhal and Jaydeepsinh Parmar allegedly demanded ₹3 lakh for releasing the handset. When the complainant said he could not arrange the full sum immediately, Dhadhal allegedly agreed to accept the amount in three instalments of ₹1 lakh each.
The Sting Operation
Unwilling to pay even the first instalment, the complainant approached the ACB, which set up a trap at a container-based chamber opposite Panoli police station. During the operation, the complainant held a pre-arranged conversation with Dhadhal, who allegedly directed him to hand the money to Lok Rakshak Police Constable Sagar Chavda.
Chavda was caught red-handed accepting the ₹1 lakh cash, which was subsequently recovered by the bureau. The ACB alleged that all three accused — Dhadhal, Parmar, and Chavda — acted in collusion and shared responsibility for the bribe.
Who Are the Accused
Officials provided the following personal details of the three accused. Aniruddh Dhadhal is currently residing at Ankleshwar City Police Line and is originally from Rajkot district. Sagar Chavda is posted at Panoli police station and hails from Bhavnagar district. Jaydeepsinh Parmar is also residing at Ankleshwar City Police Line and is originally from Surendranagar district.
Pattern of Recent ACB Actions in Gujarat
This case is part of a broader pattern of anti-corruption operations targeting police personnel across Gujarat. Earlier in July, the ACB arrested a constable posted at Kadi police station in Mehsana district while he was allegedly accepting a ₹80,000 bribe to settle a criminal complaint; two additional persons were arrested in connection with that case.
In a separate operation in June, a Police Sub-Inspector and a head constable attached to Bopal police station in Ahmedabad were arrested after allegedly demanding and accepting a ₹5 lakh bribe, following a trap laid by the Kheda unit of the ACB.
The repeated actions suggest the ACB is intensifying scrutiny of lower-rung police personnel, particularly in cases involving seized property and pending complaints. Whether this signals a structural crackdown or a reactive response to citizen complaints remains to be seen.
Point of View
Ahmedabad's Bopal, and now Bharuch — is not a coincidence. It suggests either a systemic culture of petty extortion at the station level or a deliberate ACB escalation in response to citizen complaints. The detail that the bribe was for returning a legally seized phone to a bailed-out accused underscores how routine custody of property has become a revenue stream. The ACB's reliance on citizen-initiated complaints also raises a harder question: how many such demands go unreported because complainants simply pay up.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were the three Gujarat police personnel arrested by the ACB?
The three police personnel — Assistant Head Constables Aniruddh Dhadhal and Jaydeepsinh Parmar, and Constable Sagar Chavda — were arrested on 14 July after being caught in an ACB trap while allegedly accepting a ₹1 lakh bribe. The bribe was the first instalment of an alleged ₹3 lakh demand for returning a mobile phone seized from the complainant in a Prohibition Act case at Panoli police station, Bharuch.
How did the ACB catch the accused police personnel?
The complainant, unwilling to pay the bribe, approached the ACB, which set up a sting operation at the 'D' Staff chamber near Panoli police station. During the trap, Constable Sagar Chavda was caught red-handed accepting ₹1 lakh in cash, which was recovered by the bureau. The ACB alleged all three officers acted in collusion.
What is the background of the complainant in the Bharuch bribe case?
The complainant had been booked under the Prohibition Act at Panoli police station and sent to sub-jail. After securing bail, he returned to retrieve his seized mobile phone, at which point the two assistant head constables allegedly demanded ₹3 lakh for its return.
Is this an isolated incident or part of a wider pattern in Gujarat?
It is part of a wider pattern. Earlier in July, an ACB trap caught a constable in Mehsana district allegedly accepting a ₹80,000 bribe to settle a criminal complaint. In June, a Sub-Inspector and a head constable at Bopal police station in Ahmedabad were arrested for allegedly accepting a ₹5 lakh bribe. All three cases were initiated by citizen complaints.
Who are the three accused police personnel and where are they posted?
Aniruddh Dhadhal, originally from Rajkot district, and Jaydeepsinh Parmar, originally from Surendranagar district, are both residing at Ankleshwar City Police Line. Sagar Chavda, originally from Bhavnagar district, is posted at Panoli police station in Bharuch district.
