Thane Deputy Municipal Commissioner Among Two Arrested in ₹50 Lakh Bribery Case

Thane | In a major crackdown on corruption, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday arrested Shankar Patole, Deputy Municipal Commissioner of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), along with an associate, in connection with an alleged bribery case involving a private developer.

The Bribery Allegations

According to ACB officials, the complainant, a city-based developer, had approached the municipal authorities seeking removal of three illegal structures on a plot in Thane. At the time, Patole, who was on deputation with the TMC, was holding charge of the anti-encroachment department.

When the complainant approached Patole in July 2025, the officer allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹25 lakh to take action against the illegal constructions. The first instalment of ₹10 lakh was reportedly paid into the bank account of Sushant Surve, a private individual believed to be working closely with Patole.

However, instead of resolving the matter, Patole allegedly escalated his demand in September, doubling the bribe to ₹50 lakh. This prompted the developer to approach the ACB and file an official complaint.

The ACB Trap

Following the complaint, ACB officials began surveillance and planned a series of traps. On September 30, Patole was supposed to meet the complainant in Mulund to collect the money but changed plans at the last moment, directing the developer to meet him the next morning in Thane.

On October 1, ACB officers laid another trap around 10 am, but Patole again avoided direct involvement, telling the complainant that one of his men would collect the amount later in the day. During the third attempt, ACB officials managed to apprehend Omkar Gaikar, another associate of Patole, when he arrived to collect the second instalment of the bribe.

Arrest and Custody

Based on recorded phone conversations, where Patole can allegedly be heard instructing the complainant to hand over the money to Gaikar, the ACB moved in and arrested the senior civic officer later that evening.

Both Patole and Gaikar were produced before a local court on Thursday, which remanded them in police custody until October 4.

Wider Implications

Officials said the investigation is still underway and financial trails, including the alleged transfer of ₹10 lakh into Surve’s account, are being verified. ACB sources did not rule out the possibility of further arrests as more names could surface in the ongoing inquiry.

This case has once again raised serious questions over corruption within municipal corporations, particularly in sensitive departments such as encroachment, construction, and property regulation, which directly impact urban development in Thane and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.