CBI arrests Himachal Industries Department Joint Director for graft

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a senior official with the Industries Department of Himachal Pradesh in Chandigarh for allegedly taking a bribe from a private pharmaceutical company, it said on Tuesday.

Tilak Raj Sharma, Joint Director Industries, was caught red handed while accepting Rs 5 lakh from an industrialist whose factory is located in the industrial hub Baddi in the hill state, the CBI said.

The complainant, a chartered accountant with the firm, had submitted a file of the firm with the Joint Director's office for claiming 15 per cent capital investment subsidy on the purchase of new machinery installed in the factory as per the policy of government of India.

The complainant said the Joint Director and an accomplice him were demanding a bribe of Rs 10 lakh for clearing the claim of Rs 50 lakh of the firm, said a CBI official.

On the request of the complainant, it was agreed to pay Rs 5 lakh as first instalment.

"The bribe amount was seized and the accused were taken into custody. Search was conducted on the residential premises of both accused," a CBI official told IANS.

Sharma and his alleged conduit Ashok Rana, who is also a Baddi-based businessman, were later produced in the court of Special Judge for CBI cases in Chandigarh, which sent them to police remand for two days.

--IANS

vg/nir/dg