10 December,2013 07:07 AM IST | | Akela
Taking serious note of the complaint filed by a disabled man that staffers of the Bhoiwada court demanded bribe from him, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (Esplanade court) ordered Additional Chief Magistrate (Bhoiwada court) to display anti-bribery signboards on the court premises as well as inside the court.
The order (copy available with MiD DAY) to install signboards displaying contact number and address of the Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) was issued on December 5. Order was also issued to display Public Information Officer's (PIO) contact number and address.
Samir Zaveri, a person with 80 per cent disability, had lodged the complaint. Zaveri had recently gone to Bhoiwada court to help his friend Shah (name changed), get a refund for the money he had deposited to secure bail. Shah was arrested by officials of Worli police on charges of attempted rape and murder.
"Everyone demanded bribe, including judges and clerks. I refused to entertain them and reported the matter to the magistrate. The magistrate ordered installation of anti-bribery signboards in the court," said Zaveri. "It is true that we have got order to display anti-corruption boards," said a Bhoiwada court employee.
The case
Shah claimed that though he only slapped a woman after they bickered over a loudspeaker, she approached the Worli police station and managed to get an FIR registered by accusing him of attempted rape and murder. Shah was arrested, along with a few family members, and was lodged in Arthur Road jail. Shah alleged that he was trashed by jail inmates, who demanded Rs 50,000 as protection money. He eventually paid Rs 5,000. Shah was released on bail of Rs 20,000, which as per norms is refundable. Zaveri had gone to Bhoiwada court with Shah to claim this money.