CBI to probe if official extended undue favours to several firms

NEW DELHI: The CBI suspects BK Bansal, a senior officer in the ministry of corporate affairs who is accused of taking a Rs 20 lakh bribe from a firm to not investigate

NEW DELHI: The CBI suspects BK Bansal, a senior officer in the ministry of corporate affairs who is accused of taking a Rs 20 lakh bribe from a firm to not investigate cheating complaints, could have extended similar favours to others.

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Bansal, whose wife Satya Bala and daughter Neha allegedly committed suicide at their east Delhi residence on Tuesday, was accused of taking the bribe in two instalments this month, including Rs 9 lakh on Saturday, from a city-based middleman representing the firm.

Bansal, the senior- most officer of the Indian Corporate Law Service, allegedly took the bribe to not “refer” a serious fraud investigation office probe against the firm as was recommended to him by a ministry team that “inspected” 1,000-odd complaints against it.

The firm was accused of cheating 24,000 investors of their savings worth Rs 150 crore — Rs 176 crore including interests. They had invested in short-term fixed deposit scheme that offered lucrative interests, 9.5% to 11.5%.

“There are indications the officer indulged in more such irregularities since last year when he got elevated to the post of the director general. The CBI is ascertaining if he had been in touch with middleman,” said the source.

“Around 60- odd bank accounts will be checked,” said the source.

Bansal’s son, in whose name many of the properties were bought, can’t be traced, according to the source.