Acting on a tip-off, the CBI laid a trap to nab a middleman who had arrived in Mohali from Mumbai to collect a bribe on behalf of an IAS officer, Amit Kumar. The bribe was allegedly demanded to resolve a matter involving the owner of a well-known pizza franchise. The middleman, Harvinder Singh alias Katoch, was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe.
Following his arrest, the CBI raided the residence of the IAS officer in Delhi. The raid led to the recovery of ₹45 lakh in cash and a substantial quantity of gold, raising further suspicion of the officer’s involvement in widespread corruption.
Modus Operandi: Using Middlemen to Collect Bribes
According to sources, the IAS officer had been using the middleman to collect bribes on his behalf, maintaining a safe distance from the transactions to evade direct accountability. The CBI found that the officer was leveraging his position to settle administrative issues in exchange for money.
The CBI also confirmed that the accused middleman had been previously active in similar activities and had traveled from Mumbai to Mohali specifically to collect the bribe. Based on preliminary interrogation and evidence recovered, the CBI registered a case and presented both the accused in court, seeking their remand for further investigation.
Massive Recovery and Legal Proceedings
During the search operations, the CBI recovered high-value cash and gold assets from the residence of the IAS officer, further strengthening the case against him. The agency stated that these recoveries could be linked to previous instances of corruption and bribery involving the officer.
Both the IAS officer and the middleman were produced before the court, and further remand has been sought for detailed interrogation. The CBI is also investigating other officials who may be involved in the corruption racket.
This high-profile arrest by the CBI not only highlights the deep-rooted nexus between government officials and middlemen but also underscores the ongoing efforts to clean up administrative corruption. With significant cash and gold seized and investigations underway, this case could expose a wider network of bribery and misuse of official power.
