CBI ARRESTS Dy Director in Union Ministry of Environment and Forests

Jalandhar, January 17, 2013: The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Deputy Director (Scientist), Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, Pariyavaran Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 7 lakh from a Consultant of a Bhubaneswar-based private firm. The said Consultant was also arrested for offering the bribe to the Deputy Director.

A case was registered U/s 120-B of IPC, 7 and 12 of PC Act against a Deputy Director, Department of Environment & Forest, Pariyavaran Bhavan, CGO Complex, New Delhi and two private persons (Consultants of Bhubaneswar-based private firm). It was alleged that the Consultant of Bhubaneswar(Odisha) based private firm has offered illegal gratification of Rs. 7 lakh to Deputy Director of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Govt of India) on behalf of another private firm based at Sundargarh (Odisha) and others on January 16, 2013 near his office located at CGO Complex, New Delhi for obtaining environmental clearance.

CBI laid a trap and the Deputy Director, M/o Environment and Forests was caught red handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 7 lakh from the Consultant of a private firm on January 16, 2013 near Adhchini, Mehrauli, New Delhi. It is alleged that the bribe money of   Rs. 7 lakh was being paid by the Consultant of private firm to the Deputy Director for the issuance of environmental clearance in respect of mining project of private firm based at Sundergarh(Odisha). This matter was scheduled for consideration for clearance by the Reconstituted Expert Appraisal Committee (Non Coal Mining) today. The Consultant of private firm was also caught red handed while handing over the bribe to Deputy Director.

Searches were conducted at three places at the office and residential premises of Deputy Director located at New Delhi, Gurgaon and Rohtak.  Office and residential premises of the Consultant based at Bhubaneswar were also searched. Cash amounting to more than Rs. 1 crore besides several incriminating documents relating to movable and immovable properties were recovered from the residential premises of Deputy Director. Several incriminating documents have also been recovered from the premises of the Consultant of a private firm. Searches are still continuing.

Both the arrested accused persons are being produced today before the Special Judge for CBI Cases, Patiala House Courts, New Delhi.