A special court handling Anti-Corruption Bureau cases has sentenced former Surat Municipal Corporation junior engineer Rati Zaveri to three years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh for demanding and accepting a Rs 20,000 bribe from a grocery shop owner.
Zaveri was posted in the civic body’s Katargam zone when she allegedly threatened demolition of the complainant’s shop, claiming that the building had been constructed illegally on a reserved plot. The complainant told investigators that the property had valid approvals and supporting documents.
According to the case records cited by the prosecution, Zaveri demanded Rs 20,000 to stop demolition action. The complainant initially paid Rs 11,000 and later handed over smaller amounts. Zaveri continued to seek the remaining Rs 7,000, prompting the complainant to approach the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
The ACB then laid a trap and caught Zaveri while she arrived to collect the balance amount, investigators told the court. The alleged transaction was linked to the exercise of municipal enforcement powers over construction and property use in the Katargam area.
The case originated in 2011, when Zaveri was caught accepting the money. It subsequently proceeded to trial, where the prosecution presented witness testimonies and documentary evidence to establish the charges. The court examined the evidence on record after hearing both sides before finding Zaveri guilty.
The conviction places a criminal finding against a former municipal official at the centre of a dispute involving building approvals, demolition threats and the use of civic enforcement authority. Municipal engineers and other officials involved in construction-related inspections can influence whether residents and businesses face notices, demolition action or further scrutiny.
In this case, the prosecution’s account was that the demand was made to prevent demolition proceedings, while the complainant maintained that the property had valid approvals. The court’s sentence includes both imprisonment and a financial penalty, with the fine fixed at Rs 1 lakh.
The ruling follows a prosecution process that began with the ACB complaint and trap operation and continued through the presentation of evidence before the special court. The supplied report does not state whether the sentence has been stayed or whether Zaveri plans to appeal.
