Mumbai Traffic Cop Arrested by Anti-Corruption Bureau for Accepting Bribe

MUMBAI – The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Mumbai Division, has arrested a police constable attached to the Ghatkopar Traffic Division for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe from a rickshaw driver.

The arrest took place on April 25, 2026, following a successful trap operation conducted by the bureau.

The accused has been identified as Mr. Satish Ganesh Rathod, a Police Constable (Buckle No. 141053) posted with the Ghatkopar Traffic Division, Mumbai.

According to the ACB, the complainant is an auto-rickshaw driver who operates on a rental basis in the Ghatkopar (West) area. It is alleged that Constable Rathod approached the driver at the Traffic Office in Gandhi Nagar, Vikhroli (West), and demanded a weekly “hafta” (protection money) ranging between ₹1,500 and ₹2,000. The bribe was demanded to allow the driver to operate his rickshaw without facing official penalties or harassment.

The Trap Operation

Unwilling to pay the bribe, the driver filed a formal complaint with the Mumbai Anti-Corruption Bureau on April 18, 2026.

  • Verification: On April 24, 2026, the ACB verified the complaint through a preliminary investigation, during which the constable settled on a bribe amount of ₹1,700.

  • The Arrest: A trap was laid on April 25, 2026. Constable Rathod was caught red-handed while accepting the marked bribe amount of ₹1,700 from the complainant.

A case has been registered against the accused under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of:

  • Sandeep Diwan, Additional Commissioner of Police (ACB, Mumbai)

  • Anil Tukaram Gheradikar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (ACB, Mumbai)

  • Rajendra Ganpat Sangale, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ACB, Mumbai)

The field team was led by Police Inspector Jagdish More and supervised by Assistant Commissioner of Police Machhindra Diwe.

Public Notice: The ACB Mumbai has appealed to the citizens of Brihanmumbai to report any government official demanding a bribe. Residents can reach the ACB via their toll-free helpline 1064, their website at www.acbmaharashtra.net, or via WhatsApp at 8828281064