Kolhapur: Sadashiv Dhondiram Nikam (47), a talathi (village accountant) from Kothali village in Shirol taluka was caught accepting a bribe of Rs50,000 by sleuths of the Anti-Corruption Bureau on the evening of July 7.Nikam is also the president of Talathi and Mandal association of Shirol taluka.The man giving the bribe wanted to add his wife's name as a co-owner on his property papers. The complainant owns 4 acre agricultural land in Kothali village. He wanted to attach his wife's name as co-owner to the property and applied for the same to the talathi office. Nikam, who is talathi of the village asked bribe of Rs50,000 from the complainant to complete the procedure and get an approval from the Tehsildar and Mandal officer, according to ACB officials.The complainant had agreed to pay the amount and lodged complaint with ACB, Kolhapur. “The complainant lodged complaint with us on July 2. Following which we confirmed the details given by him and kept a watch on the suspect. On July 7, Nikam asked the complainant to visit his house with cash Rs 50,000 in the evening. Following the information, we set trap around Nikam's house,” an ACB official said.On Saturday evening after the complainant visited Nikam's house and handed over cash Rs50,000, a team of ACB officials that weer present around Nikam's house rushed into the house and caught him red handed with cash,” the official added.ACB officials have appealed people to lodge complaint if they come across a situation in any government office where a government employee asks them bribe. To lodge such complaints citizens can call on the following numbers — 020-26122134, 0231-2540989, 02162-238139, 9404345532, 7775948520 and 9049832872.

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