The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two individuals, including a Conservation Assistant from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and a contractual employee working as a Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) at ASI’s Pandavleni office in Nashik. The duo was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹20,000 from a complainant in exchange for the release of his confiscated drone.
Bribery Allegations and Seizure of Drone
The case was registered after a complaint was filed against the accused. According to the complaint, the victim, a graphic designer employed at a private company in Nashik, was filming an advertisement at the Trimbakeshwar Temple in September 2024 when his drone camera was seized by temple authorities. The drone was subsequently handed over to an ASI official in Nashik.
When the complainant approached the ASI office to retrieve his drone, the Conservation Assistant allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹50,000 to return it. He also threatened that if the complainant refused to pay, the drone would be transferred to ASI’s Aurangabad office, making it even harder to recover. After negotiations, the accused agreed to lower the bribe amount to ₹20,000, which was to be collected by the contractual MTS employee on his behalf.
CBI Trap and Arrest
Acting on the complaint, the CBI set up a trap and caught the MTS employee red-handed while accepting the ₹20,000 bribe on behalf of the Conservation Assistant. Both accused were immediately taken into custody and later presented before the Competent Court in Nashik on March 18, 2025.
The court granted a two-day police custody for both accused to allow further investigation into the case.
Search Operations and Investigation
Following the arrests, CBI officials conducted searches at the residential premises of the accused, where they reportedly found incriminating documents and other evidence related to the bribery case.
The investigation is still ongoing as authorities probe further into the misconduct and possible involvement of additional individuals in the bribery scheme.
