Mehsana: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) caught the sarpanch and the talati-cum-mantri of Gamanpura Gram Panchayat in Mehsana district while allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹1 lakh in exchange for granting construction permission. The trap was conducted on November 2, 2026, following a complaint by a citizen.
According to the ACB, the complainant had purchased land through a sale deed in Gamanpura village. One of the plots was converted to non-agricultural (NA) land in 2023, where a water-treatment chemical manufacturing unit was subsequently established. As the complainant needed to expand production, he approached the Gamanpura Gram Panchayat to obtain permission for construction on his NA land.
During the process, Sarpanch Maniben Thakor allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹1 lakh for approving the construction application. She reportedly stated that ₹20,000 would have to be paid to Talati-cum-Mantri Dipti Patel. Following negotiations, the alleged bribe was agreed upon as ₹80,000 for the sarpanch and ₹20,000 for the talati.
Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB and lodged a complaint. Acting on the complaint, the ACB laid a trap at the Gamanpura Gram Panchayat on November 2, in the presence of panch witnesses.
During the operation, Sarpanch Maniben Thakor allegedly accepted ₹80,000 from the complainant, while Talati-cum-Mantri Dipti Patel allegedly accepted the remaining ₹20,000. Both were caught during the operation, and the entire bribe amount of ₹1 lakh was recovered.
The accused have been identified as Maniben Mahendrji Thakor, 46, Sarpanch of Gamanpura, and Dipti Patel, 41, Talati-cum-Mantri of Gamanpura and Deloli Gram Panchayats.-source
