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File status report on probe into graft case involving ex-joint director of HP industries dept, CBI told
During the last hearing, the special CBI court had directed the investigating agency to submit the report on August 25
A special CBI court has directed the investigating agency to file its status report regarding further investigation into the graft case against former joint director of Himachal Pradesh industries department Tilak Raj Sharma. The stay on the case has recently been vacated by the high court.
During the last hearing, the CBI court had directed the investigating agency to submit the report on August 25. However, the CBI has sought some more time.
The case dates back to May 29, 2017, when the CBI had arrested Sharma along with a Baddi-based businessman, Ashok Kumar Rana, from Chandigarh with ₹5 lakh, allegedly the first instalment of ₹10-lakh bribe. As per the prosecution, the complainant, Chander Shekhar, a consultant to Medicef Pharma, alleged that for processing the company’s file regarding claim of ₹50-lakh subsidy, Sharma had sought ₹10 lakh and directed him to Ashok Rana.
The charges have yet to be framed by the court.
A CBI official, wishing not to be named, said: “For prosecuting a public servant, a sanction is needed from the department concerned of the accused. Tilak Raj got the sanction declined from his department and he then moved HC seeking discharge of allegations as sanction for prosecution from the authority concerned has been declined. On May 14, 2018, he got a stay from HC.”
On July 18 this year, the HC passed an order vacating the stay. Now, there is neither any stay on the investigation nor on the filing of the police report under Section 173/190 of the CrPC. Following the order, special CBI judge Jagjit Singh ordered CBI to submit its status report.
