Anant Kumar Mahendra Desai, junior engineer in P-north ward, allegedly demanded Rs 50,000 from the complainant, a grocer, for allowing him to maintain illegally constructed temporary shed in front of the shop. Earlier, Desai had warned the grocer to dismantle the shed and the grocer managed to avoid Desai for several days.

On July 30, Desai summoned the grocer in his office and said that if he can pay up Rs 50,000 then ward office would hold back the immediate demolition of the shed.

When the grocer pleaded that Rs 50,000 is too big an amount, Desai agreed to accept Rs 25,000, the police said. Immediately after the bargaining, the complainant lodged a complaint with the ACB at Prabhadevi and a trap was laid at Malad.

Desai was produced in the court of additional sessions judge N B Pokharkar, who remandedthe civic official to police custody till August 7.