APMC chairman caught accepting bribe in Chandrapur
Chandrapur, Oct 23 (PTI) Chairman of Agriculture Produces Marketing Committee (APMC) of Mul in the district was caught red handed accepting a bribe of Rs 250,000, Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials said today. The APMC chairman Rakesh Ratnawar (36) was caught red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 250,000 Friday night from the director of a seeds company to waive off the cess imposed by APMC on the company, DySP ACB, Chandrapur, Ashok Jot said today. Ratnawar had demanded a bribe of Rs 5 lakh from Sachin Pawde (30), Director of Yashoda Hybrid Seeds Pvt Ltd, Hinganghat to wave off the cess imposed by APMC to the tune of Rs 16,94,930 on the firm against purchase and sale of seeds from APMC, he said. Ratnawar had objections over Yashoda Hybrid Seeds Pvt Ltd, that used to purchase good quality seeds from farmers through APMC and process them to be sold later to farmers again. The APMC then imposed cess on the seeds company for it, Jot said. Pawde on the other hand denied to pay any cess on the grounds that it had been authorised by the State Government. Ratnawar, however, allegedly threatened Pawde of consequences if he fails to pay the cess or settle the issue. The matter was settled for Rs 5 lakh as bribe to withdraw the cess imposed on the company by APMC and the amount was to be paid in two instalments of Rs 2.5 lakh. Ratnawar was caught red handed accepting the bribe at a hotel, following a complaint by Pawde, the officer said. PTI COR