Congress MLA Parsotam Sabariya from Dhrangadhra was arrested on Sunday for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe from persons accused in the irrigation scam.
Sabariya was arrested from Gujarat’s Morbi district.
According to the police, Sabariya had demanded Rs 40 lakh bribe from accused persons in the irrigation scam, in exchange for not raising the issue at local level and inside the Assembly as well.
“MLA Parsotam Sabariya had demanded Rs. 40 lakh for not raising the issue in the Assembly or before the government and settled for Rs. 35 lakh, out of which Rs. 10 lakh was given to him through a middleman. Another Rs. 25 lakh was given to the middleman in the form of a cheque,” Superintendent of Police, Morbi said.
Besides Sabariya, a lawyer, an assistant engineer, a contractual person, and two others have been arrested by the police.
Police said, 334 minor irrigation projects worth Rs. 20 crore were approved by the Gujarat government in villages in Morbi district for previous and current financial years.
“The state government, after receiving complaints, had launched an investigation into the irrigation projects which revealed irregularities and mismanagement,” Police added.
