PUNE: The state anti-corruption bureau (ACB) on Wednesday arrested an additional public prosecutor on the premises of Khed court for allegedly demanding and accepting Rs 3,500 in bribe from a defense lawyer for taking a lenient stance on the bail application of the latter’s client.
Deputy superintendent of police (ACB) Shrihari Patil said, “The defense lawyer’s client was arrested by the Pune Rural police in a case registered under the section 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code. The court was to hear the bail application of the arrested man and the defense lawyer had decided to oppose the police custody.”
Patil said public prosecutor Devendra Madhukar Sonnis (57), however, demanded a bribe of Rs 5,000 from the defense lawyer and settled down for Rs 3,500 for taking a lenient stand on the bail application favouring the defense lawyer.
The ACB officials on Wednesday laid down a trap on the premises of Khed court and nabbed Sonnis while accepting the bribe. Patil said, “Sonnis also represents ACB in the bribe cases in the Khed court.”