A special anti-corruption court in Satara delivered justice on Tuesday, convicting ESIC’s Social Security Officer Swapnil Jadhav in a high-profile bribery scandal. He faces one year in rigorous prison and a Rs 50,000 penalty, based on irrefutable proofs presented during the trial.
Back in March 2016, a local entrepreneur approached the CBI, claiming Jadhav sought Rs 30,000 to overlook violations in his firm’s employee insurance compliance, which could have triggered a Rs 3 lakh fine. The officer settled for Rs 25,000 after haggling.
Swift action by CBI agents culminated in a sting operation on March 28, 2016. Jadhav was nabbed accepting the tainted cash via accomplice Abhijit Jadhav. Charges were formally filed against the duo two months later.
While Swapnil Jadhav was pronounced guilty under anti-graft laws, his co-accused walked free for lack of direct evidence. This outcome not only punishes the perpetrator but also spotlights systemic vulnerabilities in regulatory enforcement. As Maharashtra intensifies its crackdown on corrupt practices, such verdicts pave the way for cleaner governance and fairer dealings for small businesses navigating red tape.