Recovery Officer held for bribery

The Anti-Corruption Branch of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested a Recovery Officer of Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT)-II, Mumbai while accepting bribe of Rs 1 lakh from a businessman.

The Anti-Corruption Branch of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested a Recovery Officer of Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT)-II, Mumbai while accepting bribe of Rs 1 lakh from a businessman.

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Naresh Kumar, the recovery officer, had demanded Rs 3 lakh as bribe from the businessman who had defaulted on loan repayment and proceedings against him were going on in DRT.

Praveen Salunke, deputy inspector general of police, CBI ACB, Mumbai, said the businessman had taken loan from Canara Bank but defaulted on repayment.

Canara Bank filed an appeal in the DRT following which recovery proceedings were initiated against the businessman.

Salunke said that during the recovery proceedings, the businessman’s Ghatkopar flat was valued at Rs 1.3 crore for auction. The value was to be mentioned in advertisements for the purpose of auction.

The businessman claimed that the flat’s actual value was Rs 3.5 crore. Another official said the businessman wanted actual value to be given in advertisements so that he gets more amount in his hand after repaying the bank loan through auction. Kumar approached the businessman on Monday and asked for bribe of Rs 3 lakh to delay giving the advertisements so that the latter (businessman) can make a plea before DRT for revaluation of his property. Kumar asked him to pay Rs 1 lakh on Wednesday.

The businessman lodged a complaint with the CBI. The CBI asked the businessman to agree to pay Rs 1 lakh to Kumar so that a trap could be laid.

Kumar met the businessman at Vishwabharat Restaurant & Bar in Ghatkopar (W) at 9.30 pm and accepted the part payment of the bribe. Kumar was produced before the Special Court for CBI cases on Thursday and was remanded to CBI custody till Saturday.