CBI arrests Chandigarh official for bribery

The CBI has arrested the Member-Secretary of the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee on charges of accepting bribe, an official said on Tuesday.

Birendra Choudhary was arrested on Monday for demanding and receiving Rs 1 lakh in bribe for not taking any adverse action against a person, the official said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday also searched Choudhary's residence which led to the recovery of Rs 2 lakh in cash and certain documents pertaining to properties and bank accounts.

The agency registered a case against Choudhary on Monday after a Chandigarh-based private firm owner filed a complaint alleging that the official had taken bribes from him and three other businessmen.

"It was alleged that a show cause notice was issued to the complainant by Choudhary regarding revoking of consent issued to him on December 6, 2016. After having received the notice, the complainant met Choudhary several times to explain his version but he did not hear him properly," a CBI official said.

The complainant then, along with three other businessmen with similar issues, met Choudhary again.

"During the meeting, Choudhary demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000 from each businessman for not taking any adverse action against them. The alleged bribe amount was subsequently reduced to Rs 25,000 each, totalling Rs 1 lakh from four businessmen, including the complainant, who was asked by the Member-Secretary to deliver the said bribe amount."

--IANS

rak/him/vt