Ahmedabad: In an operation, ACB Anti-Corruption Bureau Gujarat arrested 2 top officers, from Health and Family Welfare Department, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30 lakhs of which Rs 15 lakhs was recovered. Complainant had previously served as Deputy Director of Health and Medical Services in Bhavnagar. During his tenure, the complainant had taken disciplinary action against certain health department staff members concerning fraudulent medical practices. Subsequently, a complaint of extortion was filed against complainant with Commissioner of the Health Department, leading to suspension of the complainant and a fellow doctor. Health Department had initiated an inquiry against both doctors, with the investigating officer submitting their report in January 2025, after completion of the inquiry in October 2024.As per ACB, second accused, Girish Jethalal Parmar, retired Dean of the Government Dental College Ahmedabad, acted as a mediator and contacted complainant. Girish Parmar allegedly arranged a meeting with prime accused, Dinesh Parmar, an Additional Secretary (Investigation), Class-1, in Health and Family Welfare Department, to give a favorable judgement in ongoing preliminary inquiry against the complainant and their colleague.In a meeting at Gandhinagar, both accused allegedly colluded and demanded a bribe of Rs 30 lakhs from complainant and his associate. It was agreed that Rs 15 lakhs would be paid as an advance, with the remaining amount to be paid after completion of work. Later second accused, Girish Parmar, allegedly made repeated phone calls to the complainant demanding bribe. Unwilling to pay the bribe, complainant approached ACB team and filed a complaint. Based on the complaint, ACB laid down a trap today. In the operation, second accused Girish Parmar, called complainant to his residence at Arham Society, Shahibaug, Ahmedabad, to pay bribe. Parmar was caught red-handed while accepting Rs 15 lakhs from the complainant after engaging in a pre-arranged conversation. The trap operation was conducted by Shri SN Barot, Police Inspector, ACB, Field-3 (Intelligence), Ahmedabad, with assistance from Smt. AK Chauhan, Police Inspector, ACB, Field-1. The operation was supervised by Shri AV Patel, Assistant Director, ACB, Field-3 (Intelligence). Further investigation is going on.
