Ponda mamlatdar caught red-handed while accepting bribe NT Staff Reporter Panaji April 28: The anti-corruption cell of the vigilance department today caught red-handed the Ponda mamlatdar, Mr Prashant Anand Mandrekar while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a prawn farm owner.The superintendent of police of the vigilance department, Mr Bosco George informed the reporters late today evening that Mr Thomas Menezes, the managing director of Oceanic Aqua-Culture Private Ltd, Madkai, lodged a complaint with the vigilance department today morning alleging that Mr Mandrekar had been demanding money to settle a case related to ownership of a farm owned by him (Mr Menezes). Acting upon Mr Menezes' complaint, sleuths of the anti-graft cell of the department laid a trap and caught Mr Mandrekar red-handed while accepting Rs 10,000. Giving details about the Ponda mamlatdar's entrapment, Mr George informed that the prawn farm owner hailed from Madkai. A neighbour of Mr Menezes found fault with the legality of the farm. The neighbour complained to the Ponda mamlatdar and alleged that the farm was illegal. In the meantime, the legality matter of the farm reached court of law. During the course of court proceedings, an inquiry was instituted by the mamlatdar. All the required documents were placed before the court, and it was realised that the mamlatdar did not have the right to conduct an inquiry into the matter. In spite of this he kept the matter pending. During this period, the farm owner made a profit of Rs 12 lakh. Seeing this, the mamlatdar demanded Rs 1 lakh from Mr Menezes to 'settle the case'. Mr Menezes told the Ponda mamlatdar that he did not have Rs 1 lakh to give him as bribe. So, Mr Mandrekar climbed down to Rs 50,000, then to Rs 30,000 and finally settled for Rs 20,000. Yesterday, the farm owner and the Ponda mamlatdar settled the 'deal' - Mr Menezes would pay Mr Mandrekar Rs 10,000 as part of the first installment and the remaining amount would be paid in the next installment. However, the shrewd farm owner wisely recorded the whole conversation that took place between him and the Ponda mamlatdar. Mr Menezes telephoned the vigilant department and informed it about the case and submitted a cassette of the conversation. Today morning, the mamlatdar accepted the money and put it into his shirt pocket. In a jiff, vigilance department sleuths caught him red-handed. They found Rs 7,000 on his person and from a drawer of his desk. The SP revealed that Mr Mandrekar almost fainted on being caught red-handed. Mr George informed that everything was video-taped and along with two government servants, who stood as panchas, a panchanama conducted. The entrapment was conducted under the supervision of Mr George; the deputy superintendent of police, Mr Omprakash Kurtarkar; police inspector, Mr Gundu Naik and others
