Nagpur: In a significant anti-corruption operation, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Nagpur, has initiated action against a woman Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) attached to Wathoda Police Station for allegedly demanding a bribe to avoid taking action against a complainant in a molestation-related complaint.

According to the ACB, the complainant had approached Wathoda Police Station after not receiving commission money for work carried out for a woman. During the inquiry into the complainant’s application, the woman allegedly lodged a molestation complaint against him. It was alleged that PSI Pranali Benke, posted at Wathoda Police Station, demanded a bribe through a private intermediary to refrain from taking action against the complainant.

The complainant subsequently approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Nagpur, alleging that on February 28, 2026, the PSI had demanded ₹20,000 as a bribe through an agent.

Following the complaint, ACB officials conducted a verification of the bribery allegations. During the verification carried out on March 6, 2026, PSI Benke allegedly demanded ₹30,000 from the complainant. After negotiations, she reportedly agreed to accept ₹10,000 as a settlement amount at Wathoda Police Station in Nagpur.

However, officials said that the accused officer later became suspicious of the complainant and ultimately refused to accept the bribe amount. Based on the evidence gathered during the verification process, the ACB on Monday, June 2, 2026, took PSI Pranali Benke into custody. The process of registering a criminal case related to the alleged bribe demand at Wathoda Police Station is currently underway.

The operation was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Digambar Pradhan, Superintendent of Police, ACB Nagpur, Additional Superintendents of Police Madhuri Baviskar and Vijay Mahulkar, and under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police Shubhangi Wankhede. The trap and investigation team included Police Inspector Ravindra Sahare, Police Inspector Vaishali Athawale, and other ACB personnel.

ACB Appeals to Citizens to Report Corruption

The Anti-Corruption Bureau has appealed to citizens from Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara, Gondia, Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts to immediately report any government official, employee, or private agent demanding a bribe beyond the prescribed government fees for official work.

The bureau assured that prompt action would be taken on complaints, the amount used during trap operations would be returned to the complainant within a month, and efforts would be made to ensure that the complainant’s legitimate pending work with government departments is completed without obstruction.