Latest news with #PreventionofCorruption
Hindustan Times
25-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
CBI books EPFO accounts officer, wife in corruption case
MUMBAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked an accounts officer of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in a corruption case for allegedly obtaining undue advantage from certain PF claimants to process their claims. The agency also booked the accused officer's wife for allegedly abetting him in his activities related to obtaining of undue advantage from the claimants. (Shutterstock) The accused official, who is posted in Pune, and his wife, were recently booked under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act under sections relevant to the offences of performing public duty improperly or dishonestly in anticipation or in consequence of accepting undue advantage and abetment, respectively, CBI sources said. The accused officer is under the probe's scanner for his service tenure in the period between 2019 and 2025. The probe will also examine if there were others who may have helped the accused, agency sources said. The CBI began its investigation on the basis of information that the accused officer, being a public servant, was directly involved in the processing and handling PF claims submitted by multiple private firms over a period from 2019 to 2025, but was misusing his official position to dishonestly process the claims, the sources said. It was learnt by the CBI that several of these claimants had allegedly deposited funds in the bank account of a consultancy firm maintained with a public-sector bank. The consultancy firm was in the name of the accused officer's wife, the sources said. Verification conducted by the agency showed that the consultancy firm was allegedly also operating from the residence of the accused officer, the sources said. 'The information prima facie revealed that the accused EPFO official, being a public servant, abused his official position to improperly and dishonestly process and handle various EPFO claims submitted by various private entities in anticipation of or in consequence of accepting undue advantage through a third party, the consultancy services ostensibly operated in the name of his wife,' a CBI source said. His wife allegedly abetted him in accepting undue advantage from PF claimants under the garb of providing consultancy services to them, the sources said. The CBI obtained the approval from the Competent Authority under the PC Act to initiate its probe against the accused official.
Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Centre approves probe against AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj, Satyendar Jain in corruption case
The Union Home Ministry has given nod to the Delhi government's Vigilance Department for an investigation against former ministers and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain over the alleged irregularities in the execution of healthcare infrastructure projects worth over Rs 1,000 crore. The AAP, however, has rejected the claims of corruption, saying that project delays are being 'weaponised' by the ruling party. The inquiry has been cleared under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption (Poc) Act, 1988. About a month ago, the Vigilance Department had launched an investigation into the matter, and sought the Centre's approval to run a deeper probe. Initially, the ACB, which reports to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, began a probe after receiving a complaint from BJP leader Vijender Gupta in August 2024. At the time, Gupta, who is now the Delhi Assembly Speaker, was serving as the Leader of the Opposition, while the AAP was in power in the Capital. In his complaint, Gupta had alleged that both former ministers were complicit in financial misconduct within the Health Department. He accused them of enabling rampant corruption through deliberate delays and inflated costs. According to Gupta's complaint, a total of 24 hospital projects sanctioned during the tenure of the AAP government at an estimated cost of Rs 5,590 crore allegedly saw astronomical cost overruns and remained incomplete years after their scheduled deadlines, suggesting large-scale fund diversion. Among the cases cited in his complaint were seven ICU hospitals with a combined bed capacity of 6,800. Sanctioned in September 2021 for Rs 1,125 crore and scheduled for completion within six months, these hospitals were only 50% complete nearly three years later, as per the complaint. As per the allegations, a total of Rs 800 crore was spent, and the cost for constructing LNJP Hospital's new block, initially approved at Rs 465.52 crore, ballooned to Rs. 1,125 crore. A polyclinic expansion project saw only 52 out of 94 planned clinics built, while its sanctioned budget increased from Rs 168.52 crore to Rs. 220 crore. Gupta alleged that both the AAP leaders repeatedly rejected cost-effective alternatives, raising suspicion about 'vested interests'. Following a prima facie review, the ACB concluded that there were patterns of cost inflation, misallocation of funds, rejection of economical solutions, and the creation of idle assets. These, it said, indicate serious lapses and corrupt practices that reportedly have led to substantial losses to the government exchequer. After receiving Gupta's complaint, the ACB had referred the matter to the Delhi government's Vigilance Department under Section 17A of the PoC Act, which had sought comments from the Health and Family Welfare Department and the Public Works Department. While the Health Department did not object to a probe, the PWD recommended a full-fledged vigilance inquiry to identify the scale of the alleged irregularities and fix responsibility. The Vigilance Department, after examining all inputs, has submitted its findings to the Raj Niwas. In its note, it cited delays due to specification changes after project sanction, poor planning, inaccurate cost estimation, and an escalation of costs. It also flagged the possibility of hidden facts and unaccounted evidence, stating that these require a deeper investigation. Responding to the accusation, the AAP said that project delays can't be called corruption. 'The Bullet Train project is delayed by 10 years, will it be investigated as a case of corruption?…53% projects of Central Govt see delay of more than three years and cost escalation, will CBI register corruption cases against Central Ministers?' the party asked in its statement to the press. The BJP and the L-G have turned governance into a 'laughing stock' by 'weaponising' routine project delays as alleged corruption, said the party. Meanwhile, Bharadwaj said that any of the projects mentioned in the complaint were not approved during his tenure. 'The hospital's construction sanctions were given in 2017-18 and 2021. The estimates were also approved at the same time. I became the Health Minister in 2023. After I became the Health Minister, no file related to the cost or revised estimates of the hospital project construction ever came to me nor did I ever give any approval for any cost escalations,' he said.
Hindustan Times
21-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Sonepat DC's personal assistant held in graft case
Jun 21, 2025 07:20 AM IST The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) officials on Friday arrested a personal assistant to Sonepat deputy commissioner while accepting a bribe of ₹ 3.50 lakh in lieu of ensuring transfer of a clerk from additional deputy commissioner's office, Sonepat to Rai Tehsil as revenue clerk. The ACB has registered a case against the accused under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act. (HT photo for representation) A spokesperson of ACB said that they have recovered ₹ 3.5 lakh from the accused Shashank from Sonepat Deputy commissioner's office and ₹ 5.75 lakh from his house at Ashok Vihar in Sonepat. 'We have received a complaint from a clerk, who was recently transferred to ADC office that Shashank, who is personal assistant to Sonepat deputy commissioner had sought ₹ 5 lakh from him in lieu of transfer from ADC office to Rai Tehsil as revenue clerk when he met him to transfer him from ADC office. He had already paid ₹ 1.5 lakh in advance and now demanded ₹ 3.5 lakh to ensure his transfer. Even, the accused claimed that he had talked to the deputy commissioner for the transfer,' the spokesperson added. The ACB has registered a case against the accused under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act.
New Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Cash for bail case: Rouse Avenue Court record keeper takes back Delhi HC bail petition
NEW DELHI: A record keeper (ahlmad) posted at Rouse Avenue Court, accused of accepting bribes from undertrials to secure bail, has withdrawn his anticipatory bail plea from the Delhi High Court. Mukesh Kumar, who is under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), withdrew his plea on Wednesday, the day arguments were scheduled. Justice Tejas Karia allowed the withdrawal, granting liberty to file a fresh plea in the future. Appearing for Kumar, Advocate Ayush Jain requested the Court to direct the ACB to issue proper notice under Section 41 of the Criminal Procedure Code before requiring the accused to join the investigation. He also sought permission for an advocate to be present during Kumar's statement. The ACB, represented by Additional Standing Counsel Sanjeev Bhandari, assured the Court that all legal procedures would be followed. The bail withdrawal comes amidst growing scrutiny. The High Court had recently transferred a Special Judge of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act from Rouse Avenue to North-West Rohini after the allegations against Kumar surfaced. Kumar was booked by the ACB on May 16 under Sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, as well as under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. According to the agency, he allegedly demanded and accepted bribes from accused persons in return for facilitating their bail.
Deccan Herald
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Karnataka HC declines to intervene in graft case against KIADB official
The petitioner, at present working as Joint Director of Municipal Administration, had moved the high court challenging the proceedings under sections 7 (a) and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act.
