In a bid to ostensibly relieve himself and his customers of the discomfiture of summer, the assistant engineer chose the off-beaten path.

If the phenomenon of bribery conjures up imagery of astronomical sums or exotic luxury articles, then this particular instance is as bizarre as they come, not least with the sweltering Indian summer playing a major role in the misdemeanor.

Rajesh Hingankar, a 40-year-old Assistant Engineer with the Maharashtra Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) fell into a trap laid by the Pune unit of the Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) for demanding a paltry ceiling fan from an electrical contractor as ‘bribe’ in order to sanction an electricity connection.

While Hingankar, who works with the MSEDCL branch at rural Vadgaon Maval, was duly nabbed by ACB sleuths on Tuesday, the real reason behind his bribe demand has provoked a tizzy of laughter among authorities, albeit tinged with a touch of pathos.

Enervated by the relentless heat and soaring temperatures, Hingankar, whose office cabin was allegedly bereft of a fan or any other cooling mechanism, made up his mind to secure a ceiling fan illicitly when the opportunity presented itself in the form of an electrical connection requested by a contractor.

In a bid to ostensibly relieve himself and his customers of the discomfiture of summer, the assistant engineer chose the off-beaten path to get his ceiling fan instead of a simple written request to higher authorities at the Pune office.

The electrical contractor complained to the ACB who duly set a trap. Hingankar took the bait, and fell into their hands — all for a fan costing Rs. 2000 besides provoking incredulity among his superiors.