Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Maharashtra silent on prosecution sanction in Mantralaya bribe case
A government worker in Maharashtra was caught taking money that he was not supposed to take.
The worker, a clerk at the Food and Drug Administration, was arrested inside Mantralaya, the building where the state government works.
He is accused of asking a medical store owner for money to give back a suspended licence.
The police agency that caught him, called the Anti-Corruption Bureau, finished its investigation and has evidence against him.
But before the case can go to court, the state government must give permission.
The police asked for that permission more than a month ago, but the government has not answered yet.
Some politicians are angry and want a minister to resign because the clerk worked in his department.
The minister says he had nothing to do with it and that the clerk acted alone.
The police also found extra money on the clerk and want to know where it came from.
So right now, everyone is waiting for the government to decide.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Rajendra Dherange, a Class III FDA clerk, in a February 13 trap inside Mantralaya for allegedly accepting a Rs 35,000 bribe.
The ACB sent its prosecution sanction proposal to the Maharashtra government more than a month ago and is still awaiting a response.
Dherange allegedly demanded Rs 50,000 from a Mumbai-based medical store owner to restore a suspended licence, later negotiating the amount down to Rs 35,000.
Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal demanded minister Narhari Zirwal's resignation, while Zirwal denied involvement and said no one would be shielded.
The ACB recovered Rs 42,000 in addition to the alleged bribe amount and is examining the source of the extra cash.
- Who
- The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Rajendra Dherange, a Class III clerk in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal and FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal are also central figures.
- What
- A bribery trap inside Mantralaya and the pending prosecution sanction needed to take the case to court.
- When
- The trap was carried out on February 13; the sanction proposal was sent more than a month ago.
- Where
- Mantralaya, the seat of the Maharashtra government in Mumbai.
- Why
- Dherange allegedly demanded a bribe from a Mumbai medical store owner to restore a suspended licence.
Congress and critics
Minister Zirwal and department
Resignation demand
Congress and critics
Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal demanded Zirwal's resignation, alleging corruption is flourishing inside the state secretariat.
Minister Zirwal and department
Zirwal denied any involvement, said the clerk acted alone, and stated he would resign only if any link to him emerged.
Responsibility for the bribe
Congress and critics
The trap inside the minister's office area triggered a political controversy and scrutiny of the department.
Minister Zirwal and department
Zirwal said the act was committed by the clerk, that no one would be shielded, and he later relieved his private secretary Dr Ramdas Gade of his post.
- Accused
- Rajendra Dherange, Class III FDA clerk
- Alleged bribe amount
- Rs 35,000 (negotiated down from Rs 50,000)
- Date of trap
- February 13
- Location
- Mantralaya, Mumbai
- Investigating agency
- Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Maharashtra
- Additional cash recovered
- Rs 42,000
- Legal requirement
- Prosecution sanction under Section 19, Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
- Sanction response status
- No response received; reminder due after 90 days