CBI arrested KAPL's MD in a bribery case. (Img: Pinterest)
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) booked the Managing Director of the Central Public Sector Enterprise (PSU) Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Limited (KAPL) in a supposed bribery case. After the arrest, the agency conducted searches in several places and seized ₹75 lakh in cash, about ₹86 lakh worth of gold jewellery and foreign currency and property documents. The case investigation is still in progress.
CBI arrested the Managing Director of Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (KAPL) of Bengaluru on July 15 Thursday. The agency has claimed that the accused was captured through a trap operation in Noida while 'accepting a part' of the bribe demanded by a private firm.
KAPL, a Central PSU, is engaged in the manufacturing and supply of pharmaceutical products or drugs to government agencies in India.
The managing director has alleged that he demanded an illicit benefit of about ₹15 lakh from a Bhopal-based company authorised as a service agent of KAPL. The firm supplies medicines to all government bodies in Madhya Pradesh.
Both the CBI and KAPL have maintained that the accused demanded a bribe to approve the Service Agent Agreement of the firm, renew the applications pending for the current financial year and assign further government agencies to the firm. The accused demanded a share from the commission earned by the firm on medicine sales in the current financial year.
The CBI said it laid a trap on July 15 after getting information on the alleged demand for a bribe. The accused was caught in the act of receiving ₹5 lakh as part payment of the total ₹15 lakh that was demanded from him in Noida.
The agency said the successful trap resulted in the immediate arrest of the senior PSU officer, and subsequent searches were carried out.
Following the arrest, CBI officials carried out search operations at the places of residence and office of the accused in Bengaluru, Noida and Jabalpur.
Reports say that investigators recovered nearly ₹75 lakh in cash as well as ₹4 lakh worth of foreign currency during the search operations. They also recovered 697 grams of gold coins and jewellery that were evaluated at about ₹86 lakh. The officials also seized documents pertaining to the residential flat owned by the accused.
CBI has said that the investigation is still underway. Officials are examining the recovered cash, valuables and documents to determine whether there were any additional financial irregularities or other individuals involved in the alleged bribery case.
The probe has been progressing, agency is expected to gather more evidence before taking further legal action. The case has attracted attention as it involves the head of a Central Public Sector Enterprise and allegations linked to approvals and contracts related to the supply of medicines to government institutions.
