The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Anurag Danayak, the Managing Director of Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Limited (KAPL), a Central Public Sector Enterprise, for his alleged involvement in a bribery case. Danayak was apprehended in Noida on July 15 while reportedly accepting Rs 5 lakh as part payment of a total bribe demand of Rs 15 lakh.
According to the CBI, Danayak demanded an undue advantage from a Bhopal-based firm, which acts as an authorized service agent of KAPL and supplies medicines to government institutions in Madhya Pradesh. The bribe was allegedly solicited in return for approving the firm’s Service Agent Agreement and processing its application for additional institutions.
The investigation revealed that the renewal of both requests was pending for the current financial year. Additionally, the Managing Director purportedly requested a share of the commission earned by the firm from medicine sales during the year. Following the arrest, the CBI conducted searches at Danayak’s residential and office premises in Bengaluru, Noida, and Jabalpur.
Officials seized approximately Rs 75 lakh in cash and foreign currency valued at around Rs 4 lakh from Danayak’s residence in Noida and office chamber in Bengaluru. The agency also recovered 697 grams of gold jewelry and coins, estimated to be worth nearly Rs 86 lakh, along with documents related to a residential flat owned by the accused. Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Limited is a Bengaluru-based public sector undertaking that manufactures and supplies pharmaceutical products nationwide.
The arrested official is expected to be presented before the competent court. The CBI stated that the investigation is ongoing to determine if any other individuals were involved in the alleged bribery network. This case represents a significant anti-corruption action involving a senior executive of a Central Public Sector Enterprise in recent months.
