MUMBAI: Two woman constables entrusted with handling complaints of harassment filed by women were recently caught red-handed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) accepting a bribe to dilute a case.

The ACB said it was approached by the husband of a woman who had complained against him and her in-laws about dowry harassment to the special women's cell in Osmanabad district.

The husband told the ACB that the constables, Prabhavati Ware and Chhaya Ronge, had offered to submit a report in his favour if he gave them Rs 4,000.

A senior ACB official said the man's wife had sought action aginst him and her in-laws under the new rules for prevention of domestic violence.

Under the rules, once a complaint is lodged, it is the responsibility of the cell to submit a report to the sub-divisional magistrate or tehsildar under Section 107 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Significantly, the two women constables approached the husband of the complainant, saying, if he pays Rs 4000 to them, they will submit a favourable report so that there was no trouble for him or his mother.

The husband then approached the ACB, following which the two women constables were arrested under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

