Senior Revenue Officer Arrested in Nashik After ₹2.5 Lakh ACB Trap Over Land Records
A deputy tehsildar from Sinnar, Nashik, was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau after being caught accepting a ₹2.5 lakh bribe to influence a land mutation order. The officer, Sanjay Dhangar, allegedly demanded ₹10 lakh to pass a favourable decision in a disputed land entry case. The ACB’s sting at a Nashik hospital highlights long-standing corruption within Maharashtra’s revenue department, which handles critical land records frequently targeted for manipulation.
A deputy tehsildar in Maharashtra’s Nashik district has been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for allegedly demanding a bribe to manipulate official land records. The officer was caught red-handed accepting ₹2.5 lakh at a city hospital, culminating an elaborate sting operation. This case highlights persistent corruption within the state’s revenue administration, a system crucial for land ownership.
The accused, identified as Sanjay Dhangar (51), served as a Naib Tehsildar in Sinnar. He allegedly demanded ₹10 lakh from a complainant to pass a favourable order on a disputed land mutation entry. The case involved a land purchase in Dodhi Khurd village where a previous owner sought to cancel a revision note.
After negotiation, the officer agreed to accept ₹2.5 lakh as an initial bribe payment. Following a complaint, the ACB laid a trap at Sopan Hospital in Nashik city. Dhangar was arrested on Tuesday while accepting the marked currency notes from the complainant. A First Information Report has been registered against him at Mumbai Naka police station.
A Pattern of Corruption in Maharashtra’s Revenue Department
This arrest is not an isolated incident but part of a recurring pattern. Revenue officials across Maharashtra have repeatedly been trapped for soliciting bribes for routine services. These cases often involve land records, a sector prone to manipulation and public exploitation.
In August 2023, a Naib Tehsildar in Wardha was arrested for accepting ₹3,000. He had demanded money to prepare a mutual partition deed for a farmer. The arrest occurred right in the tehsil office, even on a day celebrating Revenue Department achievements.
Another officer in Amravati was trapped in 2022 for taking ₹18,000. The bribe was to withhold documents about a seized sand truck from the RTO. These frequent cases suggest systemic vulnerabilities within the revenue administration that enable corrupt practices.
Sinnar, Nashik (2025): Sanjay Dhangar; ₹2.5 Lakh; For favourable land mutation order.
Wardha (2023): Kishor Shende; ₹3,000; For preparing a partition deed.
Amravati (2022): Shankar Shrirang; ₹18,000; To withhold information on a seized vehicle.
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The ACB’s Sting Operation and Systemic Response
The Nashik operation was conducted under the guidance of senior ACB officials. The bureau, formally known as the Maharashtra State Anti-Corruption Bureau, operates with a mandate to create a corruption-free government. It was established by a government resolution in 1957 and has eight regional units across the state.
The bureau’s vision is to build a strong anti-corruption culture within government machinery. Its mission involves the effective enforcement of anti-corruption laws through professional and impartial investigation. This recent trap in Nashik is a direct execution of that mission, aiming to deter other officials.
The arrest has sent shockwaves through the local revenue department. It underscores the ongoing challenge of eradicating graft from a department that directly interfaces with citizens over critical assets like land. The ACB continues to rely on citizen complaints to initiate such actions.
How Citizens Can Report Demands for Bribes
The Anti-Corruption Bureau encourages public cooperation to tackle corruption. Citizens approached for bribes by government servants have multiple channels to report it. The ACB emphasises that a corruption-free society leads to progress, prosperity, and good governance.
Officially, the bureau operates under the direct administrative control of the state Home Department. Citizens can reach out to their regional ACB unit to file a complaint. Proactive reporting is considered essential for the bureau’s success in its fight against graft.
For reporting, citizens can use toll-free numbers or contact local ACB offices. The bureau assures that it stands firmly with the citizen and will take action against the corrupt. Each complaint is investigated, and punitive action is pursued against guilty public servants.
The arrest of the Sinnar officer is a reminder of the vigilance required to protect public administration from corruption. While the ACB’s action is commendable, the recurring nature of such traps points to a need for deeper systemic reform within the revenue department. For ordinary citizens, understanding their right to complaint remains a powerful tool.
