CBI arrests 2 officers for graft

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 26

CBI sleuths today arrested two senior officers of the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA) office, Western Command, Sector 9, Chandigarh, for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 20,000 for issuing an annual settlement certificate.

The accused are Senior Auditor Vitesh Kumar and Assistant Accounts Officer Kashmiri Lal.

Sources in the CBI said while Vitesh was arrested while taking the bribe, Kashmiri Lal was arrested on the basis of a recording of a conversation between the complainant and him.

The complainant, in his statement to the CBI, said that his brother-in-law was from Pathankot and had a contract for supplying stationery and electrical items to the Army. The accused had demanded a bribe from the complainant’s brother-in-law for issuing an annual settlement certificate to his firm.

A senior CBI officer said a payment of around Rs 10.50 lakh of the contractor was pending with the Army and both officers were reportedly demanding 10 per cent of the total amount as bribe for clearing his bills and to issue him a fresh annual settlement certificate, which was mandatory for further contracts.

A case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1998, has been registered against both accused.

The sources said searches were being conducted at the houses of both accused. They would be produced in the court on tomorrow.