Navi Mumbai: A senior official of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has been arrested in a corruption case after being caught accepting a bribe at the board’s office in Vashi.
According to officials, Rajendra Manik Ahire (55), who served as the divisional chairman of the board’s Mumbai division, was nabbed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) during a trap operation. He was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of around ₹20,000–₹22,000 from a contractor.
Investigations revealed that the bribe was demanded in exchange for clearing pending bills related to electrical maintenance work at the board office. The contractor had reportedly submitted bills worth over ₹3 lakh, and Ahire allegedly sought a commission to process them.
The ACB laid a trap after receiving a complaint and verifying the demand. Ahire was caught in his office cabin while accepting the money, following which a case was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Another official from the board has also been named in the case for allegedly facilitating the bribe demand, though further investigation is ongoing.
The arrest has triggered concern within the education department, as Ahire had previously been involved in exposing irregularities in recruitment and salary disbursement linked to the Shalarth ID system.
Officials said the case highlights continued efforts by anti-corruption agencies to crack down on malpractice within public institutions, particularly in the education sector.
