India, July 30 -- A chief inspection officer with the state civil supplies department was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs.1.75 lakh from the manager of a gas distributing agency, to keep him from acting against the agency for certain violations. Police also found Rs.10 lakh in his bag.

Vinayak Vasant Nikam, 54, was arrested on Tuesday. "Nikam demanded Rs.2.5 lakh every month, and later reduced the sum to Rs.1.75 lakh," said a police officer. Of this sum, Rs.1 lakh was a bribe from the complainant and Rs.75,000 from a relative of the complainant. Both of them operated gas agencies that had violated the rules. "We have booked him under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988," said the officer...