Goa official caught taking bribe

PANAJI - The Goa vigilance department Tuesday arrested a senior government officer while accepting a bribe in his office here.

Goa Civil Service officer P.K. Patidar, presently posted as registrar of co-operative societies, was holding additional charge as the director of animal husbandry. He was caught in a sting operation while accepting Rs.15,000, which was a first installment of a Rs 2.3 lakh bribe from an animal feed contractor.

“The contractor (name withheld) had supplied animal feed worth Rs. 23 lakh to government-run farms at Dhat and Koparde. Patidar wanted a 10 percent commission for clearing the contractor’s bill which was pending with the animal husbandary department,” police inspector Nilesh Rane told reporters after arresting Patidar under the Prevention of Corruption act.

According to a source, the contractor was sent in with an audio recorder and marked notes. “The entire conversation between the contractor and Patidar has been recorded. The moment he accepted the marked notes, we moved in,” the source said.