Top HP official, conduit in CBI net for taking ₹5-lakh bribe

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested joint director of Himachal Pradesh industries department, Tilak Raj Sharma, for accepting ₹5 lakh as bribe.

Sharma was held along with a conduit, Baddi-based businessman Ashok Rana, from Sector 8 in Chandigarh.

The duo had demanded ₹10 lakh for processing and recommending a grant approval of ₹50 lakh as subsidy to Medicef Pharma, a Baddi-based company.

The accused were arrested with ₹5 lakh cash — first instalment of the amount demanded. The two were nabbed on complaint of Chander Shekhar, a chartered accountant from Panchkula with an office in Manimajra. Shekhar had filed a complaint on behalf of Medicef Pharma, as he is providing them services as a consultant.

In a complaint submitted to CBI, Shekhar accused Sharma, on whose behalf Ashok Rana had demanded bribe of ₹10 lakh.

Shekhar said, in March this year, he had submitted a file to the department for claiming 15% capital investment on the new machinery installed in the factory, as per the Centre’s policy. On May 22, Sharma had issued a notice to the company asking them to inform if he has made any substantial expansion of their unit in Baddi, even when Shekhar claimed that all documents were submitted in March, while making the case for subsidy.

CBI spokesperson RK Gaur said that raids were conducted at Sharma’s residence in Sector 19, Chandigarh, which led to recovery of ₹38,960, a few US dollars and euros, 170gm gold, 350gm silver, papers pertaining to LIC policies and bank locker keys.

A case has been registered under the India Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act against the accused.

VIRBHADRA’S PS FIGURES IN COMPLAINT

In the FIR, as per the complainant, accused Sharma had claimed that part of the money was to be given to Raghuvanshi, personal secretary of Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh, in Delhi.

When contacted Raghuvanshi , through a text message, said that he cannot talk at the moment. His office staff in Delhi said that he is in Shimla. Raghuvanshi, as per sources, was also PS to the CM when he was a Union minister.

ACCUSED SENT TO TWODAY POLICE REMAND

Tilak Raj Sharma and Ashok Kumar were produced before a local court on Tuesday. The court sent them two to two-day police remand. The prosecution had sought a six-day remand.