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%.

“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.