Corruption
CBI Files FIR Against Senior Official of Food Corporation of India in Corruption Case
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a fresh FIR against Banoth Prem Singh, a former General Manager of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), after investigators uncovered over Rs 3 crore in illicit funds allegedly linked to him, officials said on Friday. The new case emerged following an analysis of Singh’s WhatsApp exchanges, revealing that the funds were allegedly parked with businessman G. Satyanarayan.
CBI Probe Uncovers Money Trail
According to the CBI FIR, scrutiny of WhatsApp chats, bank statements, and handwritten notes shared by Singh confirmed that a total of Rs 3.47 crore in illicit money had been handled by Satyanarayan over time. Of this, at least Rs 2.47 crore was transferred to various accounts and individuals for different purposes.
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CBI officials suspect that Satyanarayan was managing Singh’s illegal money, with the transactions pointing to ‘benami income’ and round-tripping of funds to hide their origin.
Earlier Bribery Arrest and Corruption Allegations
Singh was arrested in June last year during a CBI trap operation, in which he was caught accepting a Rs 1 lakh bribe. He was accused of colluding with middlemen and private firms to manipulate tenders related to transportation of rice grains for FCI, causing wrongful losses to the government exchequer while benefiting himself and his associates.
The fresh investigation further strengthens allegations that Singh received undue advantages through illicit financial transactions and misused his position for personal gains.
CBI officials continue to probe the full extent of his financial network, including other potential beneficiaries of his corrupt dealings.