MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Anti Corruption Bureau has busted a bogus anti-graft agency which collected money from people by offering `membership', and arrested its owner on the charge of impersonating a government official.
Dilip Laxman Chougule (34), resident of Satara district, had opened 'Anti Corruption Investigation Bureau' (ACIB) at Sujay Complex in Wadgaon area of Pune, police said.
ACB officials raided the so-called Bureau yesterday.
They apprehended Chougule, who was handed over to the local Sinhagad road police station.
A case under IPC sections 170 (impersonating a public servant) and 420 (cheating) was registered against him.
Chougule accepted complaints of bribery and corruption, and also offered `membership' of the Bureau for Rs 1,000. Members can officially investigate cases of corruption, he told them.
He had collected lakhs of rupees in this way in the last few months, an ACB official said here.
The Director General of ACB had received a complaint about ACIB, following which a team led by Superintendent of Police Sandeep Diwan raided its office.
Several documents including a list of its `members' and cash receipts were seized. Further probe is on.