Ulhasnagar: An assistant public prosecutor attached to the court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) in Ulhasnagar was arrested on Monday in a bribery case for allegedly demanding Rs 1,000 from an advocate for submitting her official response in two applications seeking the return of money frozen in a cyber fraud case.The accused, identified as Sushma Dhananjay Patil, is a Class I officer posted at the JMFC court in Ulhasnagar.According to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), the complainant, a 36-year-old woman advocate, had filed applications on behalf of her clients seeking the return of money that had been frozen in a cyber fraud case. The two applications were pending before the court.The complainant alleged that Patil demanded Rs 500 for each application, amounting to a total bribe of Rs 1,000, for submitting her “say” or response in the two cases.During verification conducted on August 6 in the presence of a panch witness, the ACB said the accused allegedly reiterated the demand for the bribe and showed readiness to accept the amount. The ACB laid a trap, but Patil allegedly became suspicious of the complainant and the panch witness and did not accept the money. A second trap was organised on August 11, but Patil again allegedly refused to accept the money after suspecting the complainant and panch.Based on the verification and investigation, the ACB registered an FIR at the Central police station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Patil was arrested on Monday.
