SURAT - Bharat Pastagia, a clerk in the Assessment Department of Udhna Zone, Surat Municipal Corporation, faces accusations of corruption on the eve of his retirement. A video showing Pastagia allegedly accepting a bribe of INR 40,000 in a private office has been circulating widely on social media platforms.
Public complaints of corruption within the Surat Municipal Corporation have been a persistent issue, with ordinary citizens, businesspeople, and property owners expressing frustration over the alleged misconduct of the employees. The viral video, revealing Pastagia's questionable behavior, has intensified these concerns.
The CCTV footage, recorded on May 17th at around 12.54 PM, shows Pastagia in a private office, where an unidentified individual hands him a bundle of 500-rupee notes. After taking a portion of the money, the rest of the bundle is left on the table. A few moments later, Pastagia is seen pocketing the money, according to the video.
Adding to the controversy, the alleged bribery incident happened just a day before Pastagia's retirement, casting a dark cloud over his career's culmination. The video of him allegedly accepting the bribe has gone viral, stirring public outcry and prompting an official response from the Municipal Corporation.
The amount of money involved is reported to be around INR 40,000. While some sections of the CCTV footage are muted, there are rumors of mentions of certain corporators and officials. The precise reasons why Pastagia took the money remain unclear.
Harshad Kinkhabwala, the Chief Zonal Officer of Udhna Zone, has confirmed that they are aware of the video showing Pastagia accepting money. The department has issued a show-cause notice to Pastagia, seeking his explanation of the incident. As of now, no further information has been received regarding the circumstances under which the money was taken, or the source of the video.
