The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended a Sales Officer from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) in Chandrapur, Maharashtra. The officer, identified as Pratik Tagale, was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh for expediting the transfer of an HPCL retail outlet, as per an official statement released on Monday.
Following a written complaint, the CBI initiated a case against Tagale on January 16. The complaint alleged that Tagale demanded Rs 2 lakh as a bribe to aid in the transfer of the outlet to the complainant’s wife, who owns the establishment.
Despite the complainant’s inability to pay the full amount immediately, Tagale agreed to accept Rs 1 lakh as an initial payment on January 17. He insisted on receiving the remaining sum after the completion of the necessary procedures. Acting on the complaint, the CBI conducted a sting operation on January 17, catching Tagale red-handed while accepting the bribe. Subsequently, Tagale was arrested, and the investigation is ongoing.
In a separate incident, the CBI arrested two public servants from the Revenue Department in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir, on January 16 for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 15,000. The agency, in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), regularly conducts anti-corruption operations in Jammu and Kashmir to combat malpractice among officials in public service.
