CBI NABS EPFO OFFICERS, CONSULTANT IN Rs. 10 LAKH BRIBERY SCANDAL.
Shimla: November 27, 2024; In a major crackdown on corruption, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, an Enforcement Officer of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in Baddi, Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, and a private consultant for demanding and accepting a hefty bribe of Rs. 10 lakh.
The arrests were made after a sting operation laid by the CBI exposed the accused demanding Rs. 10 lakh—comprising Rs. 5 lakh in cash and "self-cheques" worth another Rs. 5 lakh—from a local firm owner.
The bribe was allegedly sought to "settle" a PF demand of Rs. 45-50 lakh pending against the complainant’s firm at the EPFO office in Baddi.
CBI Lays Trap, Arrests Culprits Red-Handed
Acting on a complaint filed on November 24, the CBI registered a case against the Enforcement Officer, a private consultant, and other unidentified EPFO officers.
The Enforcement Officer had allegedly roped in the consultant to act as a middleman to extort money. During the trap, the consultant was caught red-handed accepting the Rs. 10 lakh bribe on behalf of the Enforcement Officer and the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner.
The investigation revealed that the bribe was meant to favorably resolve the PF demand against the complainant’s firm. All three accused have been arrested and are being presented before the Special Judge for CBI Cases in Shimla.
Searches Uncover More Corruption
The CBI also conducted extensive searches across seven locations, including Baddi, Shimla, and Chandigarh, targeting the accused's residential and official premises. A whopping Rs. 23.5 lakh in cash was recovered from the Chandigarh residence of the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, along with several incriminating documents.
Brazen Corruption in Public Offices
This case has once again highlighted the deep rot in public offices meant to serve the people. The EPFO officials allegedly attempted to weaponize their authority to extort money from a business owner under the guise of recovering dues.
CBI Investigations Continue
The CBI is now delving deeper into the corruption nexus and probing the involvement of other officials in this bribery racket.
This arrest has sent shockwaves through the business community in Baddi, which has often raised concerns about corruption in government offices. Will this be a wake-up call for accountability in public service? Only time will tell.
