NEW DELHI:TOI 6 Aug 2014
CBI director Ranjit Sinha has ordered an internal inquiry into why his officers, who had clear instructions to arrest Bhushan Steel vice-chairman Neeraj Singhal, did not do so when they went to his residence for a search operation. Singhal is on the run since.
It is alleged that Bhushan Steel gave Rs 50 lakh in bribe to S K Jain Jain through hawala channels. Jain had allegedly demanded bribe from Singhal "for not declaring Bhushan Steel's account as non-performing asset and giving it fresh credit". Rs 10 lakh was allegedly paid to him as advance. "Rs 10 lakh was transferred to Puneet Godha alias Dampi, a close relative of Jain and a real estate businessman, through another middlemen Purushottam Totlani, who runs hotels. In furtherance of the conspiracy, further amount of Rs 50 lakh was to be delivered to Jain by Bhushan Steel. This is when everybody was arrested," a CBI officer said.
When the CBI team reached Singhal's residence on Friday to carry out searches, he was present there. However, despite directions from the CBI chief, the team returned without arresting him and served him a notice under Section 160 of CrPC asking him to appear before the agency on Saturday, sources said.
Singhal escaped and has not been arrested till now despite CBI's best efforts. He has filed an anticipatory bail application in a local court which will come up for hearing on Wednesday. CBI officials said if needed, disciplinary action could be initiated against its officers.
Totlani has also not been arrested.
CBI has arrested nine persons in connection with the bribery scandal, including Jain, who was suspended by the government.
It is alleged that Bhushan Steel gave Rs 50 lakh in bribe to S K Jain Jain through hawala channels. Jain had allegedly demanded bribe from Singhal "for not declaring Bhushan Steel's account as non-performing asset and giving it fresh credit". Rs 10 lakh was allegedly paid to him as advance. "Rs 10 lakh was transferred to Puneet Godha alias Dampi, a close relative of Jain and a real estate businessman, through another middlemen Purushottam Totlani, who runs hotels. In furtherance of the conspiracy, further amount of Rs 50 lakh was to be delivered to Jain by Bhushan Steel. This is when everybody was arrested," a CBI officer said.
When the CBI team reached Singhal's residence on Friday to carry out searches, he was present there. However, despite directions from the CBI chief, the team returned without arresting him and served him a notice under Section 160 of CrPC asking him to appear before the agency on Saturday, sources said.
Singhal escaped and has not been arrested till now despite CBI's best efforts. He has filed an anticipatory bail application in a local court which will come up for hearing on Wednesday. CBI officials said if needed, disciplinary action could be initiated against its officers.
Totlani has also not been arrested.
CBI has arrested nine persons in connection with the bribery scandal, including Jain, who was suspended by the government.
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