Thane: A police officer was arrested for allegedly taking Rs 5,000 as bribe to favour a person accused in a molestation case, the ACB said today.

Sub-inspector Pandurang Narayan Gadekar (55), attached with the Bhiwandi city police station, had allegedly demanded Rs 10,000 from complainant Manikrao Gopalrao Shrigeri (43), of Bhiwandi town, who sought a favour from the officer in a case against him and his son relating to molestation of a woman, ACB Additional SP Shrinivas Ghadge said.

Gadekar later settled the deal for Rs 5,000, he said.  Following the complaint lodged by Shrigeri, the ACB sleuths laid a trap and caught Gadekar late last night near the traffic police office in Bhiwandi while he was allegedly accepting the bribe, he said.

He has been charged under sections 7, 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988.  The complainant wanted a favour from the police officer in a case relating to IPC section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) against him and his son.

He wanted cancellation of attendance and sending charge sheet as soon as possible to the court, for which he had approached Gadekar.