Gujarat ACB traps 2 Food and Drugs officials taking ₹40,000 bribe in Bharuch
Synopsis
A citizen's refusal to pay a ₹40,000 bribe for a routine drug licence led to the Gujarat ACB catching two Food and Drugs Department officials — including a Class-I Assistant Commissioner — in a live trap at their own office in Bharuch. The case spotlights alleged corruption embedded in pharmaceutical licensing, a regulatory function that directly affects public health infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) trapped two Food and Drugs Department officials in Bharuch on 18 August 2025 .
The accused are Prakashbhai Posnani , 54, Assistant Commissioner (Class-I), and Surbhiben Desai , 29, Drug Inspector/Assistant Commissioner (Class-II).
The bribe of ₹40,000 was allegedly demanded in exchange for processing a new wholesale drug licence .
The complainant, a 'vigilant citizen,' refused to pay and approached the Narmada ACB Police Station .
The entire ₹40,000 was recovered; both officials face criminal misconduct charges.
The operation was supervised by Baldev Desai , Deputy Director, ACB Vadodara.
Two officials of Gujarat's Food and Drugs Department, including an Assistant Commissioner, were caught red-handed by the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) while allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹40,000 at their office in Bharuch on 18 August 2025. The trap was laid after a citizen refused to pay the alleged demand and approached the ACB.
Who Was Caught
The accused have been identified as Prakashbhai Posnani, 54, Assistant Commissioner of the Food and Drugs Department in Bharuch — a Class-I government officer — and Surbhiben Desai, 29, a Drug Inspector serving as Assistant Commissioner in the same department, a Class-II officer. Both were apprehended inside Posnani's chamber at the Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) office in Bharuch.
How the Bribe Demand Unfolded
According to the ACB, the complainant — described as a 'vigilant citizen' — had applied for a new wholesale licence to deal in medicines. During the processing of the application, Desai allegedly informed the complainant that while the licence procedure would be completed, a payment of ₹40,000 to ₹50,000 would need to be made to the senior official. Unwilling to comply, the complainant lodged a formal complaint at the Narmada ACB Police Station.
The Trap Operation
Acting on the complaint, the ACB organised a sting at the Bharuch office on 18 August. During the operation, both Posnani and Desai allegedly accepted ₹40,000 from the complainant. The bureau subsequently recovered the entire amount. The trap was conducted by D D Vasava, Police Inspector at Narmada ACB Police Station, under the supervision of B M Patel, In-charge Assistant Director of the ACB's Vadodara unit. Baldev Desai, Deputy Director of ACB Vadodara, was the officer in charge of the overall operation.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
The ACB alleged that the two officials misused their positions as public servants and committed criminal misconduct by accepting the bribe. Both now face further legal proceedings. This comes amid Gujarat's ongoing anti-corruption drives, with the ACB having conducted multiple trap operations against government officials across departments in recent months. Notably, the demand was linked directly to a routine regulatory function — the issuance of a wholesale drug licence — raising questions about systemic corruption in pharmaceutical licensing.
What Happens Next
The case has been registered and formal charges are expected to follow. The ACB's Vadodara unit will oversee subsequent investigations. The incident is likely to draw scrutiny on the FDCA's licensing processes in Bharuch district and could prompt a departmental review.
Point of View
Where officials controlling approvals can extract payments at low risk. What makes this case significant is that the bribe was demanded for a wholesale drug licence, a function that sits at the intersection of public health and commerce. Gujarat's ACB has been active, but trap operations are reactive by design; they depend on a complainant willing to come forward. The structural fix — digitising and automating licence approvals to eliminate human discretion — remains unaddressed. Until then, anti-corruption drives will continue to catch individuals while the system that enables them goes unreformed.
NationPress
19 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the officials arrested by the Gujarat ACB in Bharuch?
The two arrested officials are Prakashbhai Posnani, 54, Assistant Commissioner of the Food and Drugs Department in Bharuch (Class-I officer), and Surbhiben Desai, 29, a Drug Inspector serving as Assistant Commissioner (Class-II officer). Both were caught at their office on 18 August 2025.
What was the bribe demanded for in the Bharuch ACB case?
The bribe of ₹40,000 was allegedly demanded to facilitate the processing and issuance of a new wholesale drug licence. Surbhiben Desai allegedly told the complainant that ₹40,000 to ₹50,000 would need to be paid to the senior official for the licence to be processed.
How did the Gujarat ACB catch the officials?
A citizen who was asked to pay the bribe refused and filed a complaint at the Narmada ACB Police Station. The ACB then arranged a trap at the Bharuch FDCA office on 18 August, during which both officials allegedly accepted ₹40,000 from the complainant. The full amount was subsequently recovered.
What charges do the two officials face?
The ACB has alleged criminal misconduct and misuse of public office against both officials. Formal legal proceedings are underway, overseen by the ACB's Vadodara unit.
Who conducted the ACB trap operation in Bharuch?
The trap was conducted by D D Vasava, Police Inspector at Narmada ACB Police Station, under the supervision of B M Patel, In-charge Assistant Director of ACB Vadodara. Baldev Desai, Deputy Director of ACB Vadodara, was the officer in overall charge of the operation.
