Dahanu | September 3, 2026 — The Palghar Anti-Corruption Bureau on Wednesday detained a warehouse clerk from the supply department of the Dahanu tehsil office while he was allegedly accepting a ₹3,000 bribe for helping obtain six ration cards, according to a report by Loksatta – Palghar.
The accused official was identified as Sachin Vhargar, who works as a warehouse clerk in the supply department at the Dahanu tehsil office. The Anti-Corruption Bureau action followed a complaint from a person who assists citizens with ration-card applications.
According to the report, the complainant had approached the office to help eight people obtain ration cards. During the process, Vhargar allegedly demanded ₹500 for each card, amounting to ₹4,000 for eight applications. The complainant reportedly did not want to pay the bribe and submitted a complaint to the Palghar unit of the Anti-Corruption Bureau on August 18, 2026.
The ACB conducted verification on August 18 and September 2. The verification reportedly established that the accused had demanded money from the complainant. On September 2, officers laid a trap at the supply department of the Dahanu tehsil office.
The clerk was allegedly caught accepting ₹3,000 from the complainant in the presence of official witnesses for arranging six ration cards. The report states that the ACB team took him into custody during the operation. The source did not provide details of the sections filed, the status of the ration-card applications or whether further officials were being investigated.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Shivraj Patil, superintendent of police for the Thane region of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Dadaram Karande. Palghar police inspector Rakesh Dange and his team carried out the trap, according to the report.
Ration cards are administered through the public distribution system and are used by eligible households to access subsidised foodgrain and related benefits. A demand for payment in connection with such an application can create an additional barrier for residents seeking access to a government service. The reported case concerns an alleged demand and acceptance of money; the accusation remains subject to due legal process.
The administration appealed to citizens to report demands for bribes by government employees to the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s toll-free number, 1064, or to the Palghar office. The report did not specify the next court or departmental action in the case.
