The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended a Joint Director of the Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) in Bengaluru for allegedly being involved in a bribery case amounting to Rs 9.5 lakh. The arrest was made following the filing of an FIR against the senior CPRI official and others for purported collusive corruption, where bribes were allegedly demanded and accepted for favorable test reports on electrical equipment manufactured by M/s Sudhir Group of Companies.
After initiating the case, the CBI set up a trap and caught the Joint Director and an executive of the private company red-handed while exchanging the bribe amount on January 9 in Bengaluru. Subsequent searches at the public servant’s residence led to the discovery of a significant sum of suspected unaccounted wealth, including cash totaling Rs 3.59 crore and various foreign currencies such as US Dollars, Hong Kong Dollars, Singapore Dollars, and more, estimated at around Rs 4.05 lakh.
Apart from the cash and foreign currencies, officials also found jewelry and other potentially incriminating items during the searches, with the total recovery amounting to approximately Rs 3.76 crore, inclusive of the foreign currencies. The CBI mentioned that search operations are ongoing, hinting at possible additional recoveries, as the investigation progresses to uncover the full scope of the alleged corruption and the involvement of other parties.
The Central Power Research Institute, a key entity under the Union Ministry of Power responsible for testing and certifying electrical equipment used nationwide, is at the center of this unfolding case. Further updates on this matter are anticipated.
