The Bombay High Court on Monday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) engineer for allegedly demanding Rs 2 crore in bribe. K-East Ward Executive Engineer Mandar Tari has been absconding for four months.
Earlier, the sessions court had issued non-bailable bail against Mandar Tari.
Taree approached the High Court after the Additional Sessions Judge had earlier rejected his anticipatory bail application. Since August 7, the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) had been searching for a developer from Andheri after the ACB officials arrested two of Tari’s associates for accepting a bribe of 75 lakhs.
According to the FIR, the complainant owned a ground plus two-storey building in Andheri in which he made some alterations to the second floor and a shed on the terrace. In January, he received a notice from the BMC saying the changes were illegal. He complained about the notice in court quashing the BMC order. In July, he alleged that some BMC officials, including Tari, visited the building.
When the complainant went to meet the authorities the next day, they demanded Rs 2 crore and asked them to pay the first installment of Rs 75 lakh, saying that they did not take any action.
The complainant approached the ACB and two alleged associates of Tari, Prateek Pise and Mohammad Shah, were arrested on August 6.
The court order said, ‘The records also show that the petitioner (Tari) and Shah were in constant contact with each other. Additionally, the WhatsApp conversations reveal that the applicant was actively coordinating with the co-accused. “
The order added, “Furthermore, the petitioner (Tari) appears to have acquired wealth in excess of his known sources of income. .. In addition, the records also indicate the existence of a well-organized syndicate consisting of both officials and private individuals, which requires a thorough and unimpeded investigation.”