Court considers chargesheet in Chhattisgarh corruption case

A court here on Thursday took cognisance of the chargesheet filed in a corruption case against suspended Chhattisgarh official B.L. Agrawal.

Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge Virender Kumar Goyal said: "I have gone through the material/documents/statement of witnesses filed with the chargesheet.. I take cognizance of the offence under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) IPC and Section 8 (Taking gratification, in order, by corrupt or illegal means, to influence public servant) of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 against the accused."

The court also directed CBI to supply documents to the accused.

Meanwhile CBI filed its reply on the bail plea of accused Syed Burhanuddin but Burhanuddin's counsel sought time to advance his argument on bail after inspecting the chargesheet.

Accused Bhagwan Singh moved his bail plea.

The court listed the matter for May 3 for further hearing.

On April 20, the CBI chargesheeted Agrawal, Burhanuddin and Singh.

Agrawal, an Indian Administrative Service officer and then Principal Secretary (Higher Education) in the Chhattisgarh government, was arrested by the CBI on February 21 on charges of trying to "settle" a case being probed by the central agency against him.

He is currently in judicial custody.

Hyderabad-based Burhanuddin was arrested on February 23 for helping Agrawal to settle the case.

Bhagwan Singh, a resident of Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, is also accused in the case.

The CBI registered an FIR on February 18 against the accused officer, Singh, Burhanuddin and others on the charge of criminal conspiracy and under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The CBI claimed the Agrawal had agreed to pay Rs 1.5 crore to Burhanuddin as gratification for helping him in a pending case.

--IANS

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