Gujarat ACB arrests ASI, GRD man for ₹10,000 bribe at Rajkot police outpost
Synopsis
A Gujarat ASI allegedly demanded ₹10,000 from a complainant — his own case's subject — to keep the accused out of the lock-up and speed up bail. The complainant refused, dialled the ACB's 1064 helpline, and both the alleged demand-maker and the collection agent were caught red-handed at the Rajkot police outpost on Sunday.
Key Takeaways
The Gujarat ACB arrested two individuals on 20 September 2026 at Aji Dam Police Outpost, Rajkot .
ASI Rajeshbhai alias Rajubhai Mer, 53 , allegedly demanded ₹10,000 to avoid lock-up custody and expedite bail for the accused.
GRD personnel Manojbhai Chauhan, 31 , allegedly collected the bribe amount on Mer's instructions.
The complainant refused to pay and reported the matter through the ACB's 1064 toll-free helpline .
The trap was conducted by Police Inspector M.N.
Rana of Rajkot Rural ACB Police Station; the entire ₹10,000 was recovered.
The Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Sunday, 20 September 2026, arrested an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and a Gujarat Raksha Dal (GRD) personnel at Aji Dam Police Outpost in Rajkot after they allegedly accepted a ₹10,000 bribe to keep an accused out of the lock-up and expedite bail proceedings. The entire bribe amount was recovered at the scene.
Who Was Arrested
The two accused were identified as Rajeshbhai alias Rajubhai Mer, 53, an ASI posted at Aji Dam Police Outpost under Aji Dam Police Station in Rajkot City, and Manojbhai Chauhan, 31, a GRD personnel posted at the same outpost. According to the ACB, Mer was investigating a case registered against the complainant at Aji Dam Police Station at the time of the alleged demand.
How the Trap Was Laid
The ACB alleged that Mer demanded ₹10,000 from the complainant in exchange for not placing the accused in the lock-up and for fast-tracking the bail process. Mer allegedly directed the complainant to hand the bribe amount to Chauhan.
The complainant refused to pay and contacted the ACB through its 1064 toll-free helpline. Following verification of the complaint, the ACB arranged a sting operation on Sunday. Chauhan allegedly accepted the ₹10,000 from the complainant in front of the gate of Aji Dam Police Outpost, within the campus of Traffic Bhavan, East Division, Rajkot. Both accused were apprehended at the spot.
The operation was conducted by M.N. Rana, Police Inspector at Rajkot Rural ACB Police Station.
ACB's Wider Anti-Corruption Drive
Officials noted that this arrest is part of the ACB's ongoing crackdown on the alleged demand and acceptance of illegal gratification by public servants across Gujarat. The bureau's 1064 helpline serves as a primary channel for citizens to report bribery complaints; once allegations are substantiated through verification, trap proceedings are organised to catch accused individuals in the act.
This case highlights a recurring pattern in which bribery allegations surface within police establishments, with accused persons exploiting their investigative authority over complainants to extract payments. The arrest of both the alleged demand-maker and the alleged collection agent underscores the ACB's strategy of netting the entire chain of an alleged bribe transaction.
What Happens Next
Both Mer and Chauhan face charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Departmental proceedings against the duo are expected to follow the criminal case. The ACB has stated the recovered amount of ₹10,000 will be produced as evidence before the court.
Point of View
Leaving the complainant acutely vulnerable to compliance. The ACB's 1064 helpline has repeatedly demonstrated its utility in precisely these asymmetric situations, but the frequency of such traps suggests systemic pressure points within lower-level police postings that administrative oversight alone has not addressed. Gujarat's ACB has conducted several such operations this year, yet the pattern — investigating officer leveraging case control for personal gain — recurs with little sign of deterrence. Accountability must travel up the supervisory chain, not stop at the individual officer caught on tape.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Rajkot ACB bribe case?
Two individuals were arrested: ASI Rajeshbhai alias Rajubhai Mer, 53, posted at Aji Dam Police Outpost, and GRD personnel Manojbhai Chauhan, 31, posted at the same outpost. Both were caught allegedly accepting a ₹10,000 bribe on 20 September 2026.
Why was the bribe allegedly demanded?
According to the ACB, ASI Mer allegedly demanded ₹10,000 from the complainant in exchange for not placing the accused in the lock-up and for carrying out bail proceedings quickly. Mer was the investigating officer on a case registered against the complainant at Aji Dam Police Station.
How did the ACB catch the accused?
The complainant refused to pay the alleged bribe and contacted the ACB through its 1064 toll-free helpline. After verifying the complaint, the ACB arranged a trap operation during which Chauhan allegedly accepted the ₹10,000 and both accused were apprehended at the scene.
What is the ACB's 1064 helpline?
The 1064 toll-free number is the Gujarat ACB's dedicated anti-corruption helpline. Citizens can use it to report bribery demands by public servants; verified complaints are used to organise sting operations to catch accused individuals while allegedly accepting bribes.
What charges do the accused face?
Both Mer and Chauhan face charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The recovered bribe amount of ₹10,000 will be produced as evidence before the court, and departmental action against the two is also expected to follow.
