CBI Arrests EPFO Officials For Rs 10 Lakh Bribe In Solan
The accused allegedly sought the bribe—comprising Rs 5 lakh in cash and “self-cheques” worth Rs 5 lakh—from a complainant
CBI Arrests EPFO Officials For Rs 10 Lakh Bribe In Solan
Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three individuals, including a Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, an Enforcement Officer of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in Baddi, Solan (Himachal Pradesh), and a private consultant, on charges of demanding and accepting a bribe of `10 lakh.
The accused allegedly sought the bribe—comprising `5 lakh in cash and “self-cheques” worth `5 lakh—from a complainant to settle a pending Provident Fund (PF) demand involving the complainant’s firm. According to sources, if the bribe had not been paid, the complainant was warned that the PF recovery amount could rise to `45–50 lakh.
The CBI registered a case on November 24, 2024, based on allegations against the EPFO Enforcement Officer and the private consultant. The bribe was purportedly intended not just for the Enforcement Officer but also for other senior officials of the EPFO.
Acting on the complaint, the CBI set a trap and caught the private consultant red-handed while accepting the bribe on behalf of the Enforcement Officer and the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner. The commissioner, identified as Ravi Anand, a 2016 batch officer, was implicated during the investigation.
All three accused were arrested and will be presented before the Special CBI Court in Shimla.
Subsequent searches were conducted at seven locations, including Baddi (Solan district), Shimla, and Chandigarh, at the residential and official premises of the accused. During the searches, the CBI recovered approximately `23.5 lakh in cash along with incriminating documents from the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner’s premises in Chandigarh.
The CBI has stated that investigations are ongoing to uncover further details about the involvement of other officials and potential financial irregularities in the case.
This incident underscores the CBI’s continued efforts to curb corruption in government offices, particularly in organisations like the EPFO, which are responsible for safeguarding the financial interests of employees and firms.
