Goemkarponn Desk
TEREKHOL: Police Inspector Vidyesh Pilgaonkar who was held in bribery case by ACB has been given 3 more days police custody.
His bail application was argued partly today. Next hearing in the matter is scheduled on Monday. Two head constables, Sanjay Talkar and Raju Kalangutkar attached to Terekhol Coastal Security police station who were also arrested in the same case have already been granted bail.
Paragliding sports operator Pruthvi H N had complained to the ACB alleging that the police were demanding bribe on a monthly basis from him to carry on his adventure sports business.
In his complaint, Pruthvi narrated how Rs 10,000 was demanded by the police, to carry on with his trade every month or face a shutdown of his business.
The complainant Pruthvi H N, operating a paraglider-low panorama adventure sports activity at Keri-Pernem, with a valid registration certificate issued by the Tourism Department filed a detailed complaint to the Superintendent of Police of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Nelson Albuquerque about how he was harassed, directed to cough up protection money to carry on with his trade and how his para-glider and harness were taken away from a hillock without following the standard operating procedure.
Pruthvi stated that a negotiation was arrived at and the settled for Rs 8,000 through G Pay was transferred to Talkar’s cellphone number. He also shared a screenshot to the WhatsApp number of PI Pilgaonkar 7875756208 confirming that the e-bribe was paid.
Pruthvi was later directed by Talkar not to make payments via GPay in future. On March 16, 2024, Talkar allegedly approached Pruthvi to pay the balance amount for the next two months and when the latter refused to do so, the head constable and another cop around 2.30 pm on March 22, 2024, came to the Paliem hillock and seized his para glider and harness.
