Shimla: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested three accused including Regional Provident Fund Commissioner Ravi Anand and Enforcement Officer Madan Lal Bhatti, both of EPFO, Baddi, Solan (HP) and a consultant (private person) Sanjay Kumar Yadav for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 10 lakh (Rs. 5 lakh cash and “Self Cheques” of Rs. 5 lakh) from the complainant.
A case was registered by CBI on 24.11.2024 against two accused including the 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 the 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 (approx.) and incriminating documents were recovered from the premises of the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner at Chandigarh.