Did CBI Arrest UP Gramin Bank Officials for Bribery?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Lucknow, Feb 1 (NationPress) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken into custody the Branch Manager and a Field Officer from the UP Gramin Bank Sahaspur branch located in Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh, along with a private individual, for reportedly soliciting and accepting a bribe of Rs 45,000, as per an official announcement made on Sunday.
The illicit payment was requested in relation to the approval of a government loan, the statement further clarified.
The individuals apprehended include Kapil Kumar, the Branch Manager of UP Gramin Bank in Sahaspur, Vikas Kumar, the Field Officer from the same branch, along with Mohd Noman, a casual worker who served as a private intermediary.
The CBI initiated the case on January 31 following a complaint lodged against the Field Officer.
As per the agency’s report, the complainant’s spouse had submitted an application for a loan amounting to Rs 5 lakh under the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Yojana at the Sahaspur branch of UP Gramin Bank.
The Field Officer allegedly sought an illegal payment of Rs 40,000 from the complainant in exchange for processing the loan application. This amount was later increased to Rs 45,000, the CBI disclosed.
After validating the complaint, the agency set up a sting operation to capture the accused. During this operation, evidence surfaced indicating that the Field Officer had conspired with the Branch Manager to demand the bribe. The private individual, identified as a casual worker, reportedly facilitated this transaction.
During the sting operation, the Branch Manager, Field Officer, and the private worker were caught in the act as they demanded and accepted Rs 45,000 as illegal gratification from the complainant.
The CBI has stated that further investigations are ongoing to explore the involvement of additional officials, if any, and to assess whether there have been similar corruption cases at the branch.
CBI remains committed to investigating fraud and bribery cases, resulting in numerous convictions, including sentences and fines.