Mumbai:
For the first time since Independence, the CBI has caught and arresteda high ranking bureaucrat accepting a bribe of Rs 2 crore. The CBIarrested Manjit Singh Bali, a 1978 batch officer of the Indian PostalService in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Bali, one of the ten senior most officers of the service in the countrywas caught red handed for seeking and accepting a bribe to allow theconstruction of a post office on a private developer's land.
"The middle man reached the hotel as did Mr Bali. Our team was waitingand we caught him red handed accepting the Rs 2 crore," said Rishi RajSingh, Joint Director, CBI.
"I first approached Bali to get a No Objection Certificate for a postoffice. He avoided me. Then a few days later I got a call from aperson. I was asked for Rs 2 crore for the NOC," said Rita Shah, FormerMumbai Corporator, Complainant.
Shah, a former city Corporator, had approached Bali on the behalf of acity builder who was willing to give up a part of his land for publicuse.
In return, under the city civic laws the builder would be given benefits like permission to build and sell more space.
The investigators say that Bali wanted a cut on the money the builder would make.
On raiding Bali's residence the CBI found large amounts of cash thatare unaccounted for. So now along with the CBI, the EnforcementDirectorate will also investigate Bali to find out if he's used hisposition for monetary gain in the past as well.