Nagpur, Jan 19 (NationPress) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended a Sales Officer from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), stationed in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, for allegedly soliciting and receiving a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from a complainant concerning the transfer of an HPCL retail outlet, as stated in an official announcement released on Monday.

The CBI initiated a case on January 16 against the accused, identified as Pratik Tagale, following a formal complaint.

The allegation detailed that Tagale requested a bribe of Rs 2 lakh to expedite the transfer of the retail outlet to the complainant’s wife, who owns the outlet, according to the CBI.

As per the agency, when the complainant indicated his inability to secure the full amount at once, the accused consented to accept Rs 1 lakh as an initial payment on January 17, while insisting that the remainder be settled post the official procedures.

Responding to the complaint, the CBI set up a sting operation on January 17 and caught the accused in the act of demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs 1 lakh from the complainant. The accused was apprehended shortly thereafter.

The CBI stated that further inquiries into this case are ongoing.

In an unrelated operation, the CBI recently detained two public officials from the Revenue Department in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, on January 16 for allegedly receiving a bribe of Rs 15,000 from a complainant.

They were also captured red-handed during a sting operation conducted by the agency. The CBI, along with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), regularly conducts operations in Jammu and Kashmir aimed at combating corruption in public service perpetrated by corrupt officials.

The CBI is actively engaged in investigating bribery cases, resulting in convictions of both public servants and private individuals, which can lead to imprisonment and substantial fines.