ACCCUSED ACCEPTED Rs. 10 LAKH (Rs. 5 LAKH CASH AND “SELF CHEQUES” OF Rs. 5 LAKH, A CASH OF RS 23.5 LAKH AND INCRIMINATING DOCUMENTS WERE RECOVERED FROM THE PREMISES OF REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER AT CHANDIGARH.
Face2News/Chandigarh/Shimla/Baddi (Solan)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested three accused including Regional Provident Fund Commissioner and Enforcement Officer, both of EPFO, Baddi, Solan (HP) and a consultant (private person) for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs. 10 lakh (Rs. 5 lakh cash and “Self Cheques” of Rs. 5 lakh) from the complainant.
The accused identified as Regional PF Commissioner Ravi Anand, Enforcement Officer Madan Lal Bhatti and Private Consultant Sanjay Kumar. CBI laid a trap on the complaint of the owner of a pharma industry in Parwanoo and arrested all three. CBI has also seized the related records from the outer office. CBI had received the complaint on 23 November. Since then the accused were on CBI Radar.
Later CBI presented all the three accused in the special court from where all three have been sent on police remand till 30th November. The firm which complained to CBI about EPFO office Baddi manufactures hand wash, liquid soap and floor cleaner.
Bribe was demanded to settle the transactions of the pharma industry of Parwanoo in Solan District of Himachal Pradesh.
Enforcement Officer of Baddi EPFO office and Regional PF Commissioner had appointed a consultant in collusion to settle the transactions of the pharma industry. Consultant Sanjay Kumar Yadav talked to the owner of the industry and demanded a bribe of about 10 lakh rupees in exchange for ending the transaction of 40 to 45 lakh rupees of the company. The owner of the pharma company had given this information to CBI. Both the officers including the consultant also got trapped in the trap laid by CBI.
CBI conducted searches at the residential and official premises of accused at seven locations in Baddi at Solan (HP), Shimla (HP) and Chandigarh. A cash of Rs 23.5 lakh and incriminating documents were recovered from the premises of Regional Provident Fund Commissioner at Chandigarh. Investigation is continuing.
A case was registered by CBI on 24.11.2024 against two accused including Enforcement Officer (EO) of Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Baddi, Distt. Solan (H.P.), Private Consultant, Baddi, Distt. Solan (H.P.) and other unknown EPFO officers on allegations that accused Enforcement Officer demanded undue advantage of Rs.10 lakh through said accused private consultant for himself and also for other senior officers of EPFO to favourably settle the matter of PF demand of complainant’s firm which was pending with EPFO Office, Baddi, Solan(H.P.). It was further alleged that if the said demand was not met, the recovery would be 45-50 lakh.
CBI laid a trap and caught accused consultant (private person) while demanding and accepting Rs. 10 lakh (Rs. 5 lakh cash and “Self Cheques” of Rs. 5 lakh) from the complainant on behalf of accused Enforcement Officer and Regional Provident Fund Commissioner whose role emerged during the trap proceedings. All three accused were arrested and are being produced in the Court of Ld. Spl. Judge, CBI Cases, Shimla.
Further, CBI conducted searches at the residential and official premises of accused at seven locations in Baddi at Solan (HP), Shimla (HP) and Chandigarh. A cash of Rs 23.5 lakh and incriminating documents were recovered from the premises of Regional Provident Fund Commissioner at Chandigarh. Investigation is continuing.