World · India Bureau
Gujarat Official Arrested for Demanding Bribe to Grant Medical Leave
Anti-corruption authorities in Surat have arrested a municipal security officer accused of extorting a subordinate for leave to accompany his pregnant wife to medical appointments. The officer allegedly demanded 25,000 rupees to avoid issuing an absence notice.
LSN India ·
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Surat, Gujarat, arrested Shailesh Manilal Parekh, a security officer with the Surat Municipal Corporation, on charges of demanding a bribe from a junior employee. According to the ACB, Parekh sought 25,000 rupees in exchange for granting the employee leave to take his pregnant wife for medical treatment without recording an official absence memo.
The arrest followed a complaint filed by the employee, who reported that Parekh had misused his official position to solicit the bribe. The officer allegedly conditioned the grant of casual leave on payment of the sum, threatening to issue a dereliction of duty notice if the demand was not met.
The ACB's intervention led to the apprehension of Parekh while allegedly accepting the bribe amount. The case highlights ongoing concerns about corruption within municipal administration in Gujarat, where officials have been found exploiting their authority for personal gain at the expense of subordinates.
The arrested officer is likely to face charges under anti-corruption statutes. The incident underscores the need for greater institutional oversight and accountability mechanisms within civic bodies to prevent such abuses of power.