Corruption
CBI Officers Arrested for Accepting Bribes to Clear Investigation: A Stain on Premier Agency
Four officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were caught accepting bribes during a probe into irregularities at nursing colleges in Madhya Pradesh.
Bhopal: In a significant development, four officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have been arrested for accepting bribes during an investigation into irregularities at nursing colleges in Madhya Pradesh. The officers, which included two on deputation from the Madhya Pradesh police, were apprehended by a special team from Delhi.
Sources revealed that the CBI officials came to know that some of their own members involved in the enquiry were taking bribes to provide favorable reports for the colleges under investigation. It is claimed that one of the CBI officers accepted a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from the director and principal of a college. Acting on this information, the CBI team from Delhi arrested the involved officer and others in the case.
The arrests come as part of a larger investigation into widespread irregularities in the state’s nursing colleges. This investigation, which was launched in October 2022 by the order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, revealed that many nursing colleges in the state were failing to meet mandatory standards despite having received approvals.
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The probe began after the High Court expressed serious concerns over the initial findings, which indicated widespread violations of the 2018 Nursing College Rules. These rules were put in place to ensure the quality and integrity of nursing education in the state.
The High Court had directed the CBI to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all 364 nursing colleges in Madhya Pradesh. To support this extensive probe, the CBI requested logistical support from the state government. The government agreed to provide revenue officers and arranged for lodging, boarding, and transportation for the investigation teams in different districts.
This recent development is a major setback for the investigation, which is the second significant scam being handled by the CBI in Madhya Pradesh after the Vyapam scam. The arrests highlight the challenges and corruption within the system, raising concerns about the integrity and effectiveness of the ongoing investigations.
CBI’s Press Release on 20/05/24 (Update)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has reinforced its zero-tolerance policy towards corruption by taking stringent action against its own officials and touts involved in a bribery case. This move is part of CBI’s commitment to uphold the core values of industry, integrity, and impartiality. The internal vigilance mechanism of CBI uncovered a conspiracy involving some of its officials and officials from State Nursing Colleges and Patwaris in Madhya Pradesh.
CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in Bhopal constituted seven core teams and 3-4 support teams comprising CBI officials and those nominated by Nursing Colleges in Madhya Pradesh. This was done under the directions of the Hon’ble High Court to conduct state-wide inspections. The goal was to ascertain whether Nursing Colleges were meeting the required norms and standards in terms of infrastructural facilities and faculty.
During these inspections, it was found that some officials, including Rahul Raj, an Inspector with CBI, were involved in corrupt activities. They were giving favorable inspection reports in exchange for bribes through conduits. The internal vigilance mechanism of CBI swiftly responded, leading to the registration of a case against 23 individuals, including Inspector Rahul Raj and three other CBI officials who were acting as conduits and touts.
On a Saturday, Inspector Rahul Raj was caught red-handed while accepting an illegal gratification of Rs. 10 lakhs from Anil Bhaskaran and his wife Suma Anil. Following this, CBI, New Delhi conducted searches at 31 locations in Bhopal, Indore, Ratlam, and Jaipur. These searches resulted in the recovery of Rs. 2.33 crore in cash, 4 gold bars, 36 digital devices, and over 150 incriminating documents.
Among the accused, 13 individuals including Rahul Raj, Inspector Sushil Kumar Majoka, Inspector Ravi Bhadoria, and Om Goswami were arrested. They were involved in acting as touts along with Jugal Kishore and three women. All arrested individuals have been remanded to CBI custody until 29th May 2024. Additionally, the CBI has initiated administrative action against the erring officials.
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