Bizman seeks B-class jail facilities

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 18

Gurugram-based businessman Swaraj Kandoi, who was arrested by the CBI in a graft case, has filed an application for better facilities in jail. 

Kandoi is the director of a company and he had allegedly sent the bribe money to an IMTECH scientist who was also arrested. The CBI has been issued a notice in this regard and is supposed file the reply on October 23.

Kandoi has appealed that being a taxpayer and graduate, he is thus entitled to avail B-class prisoner facility in the jail. He also stated that being a heart patient, he required better facilities. 

Sources said the CBI had served Kandoi a notice to join the investigation, but he was not co-operating which led to his arrest. Three persons were already arrested in the case — Sanjay Pandey, Scientist B, Assistant Hydrologist, Central Ground Water Board; Chander Parkash Midda, Technician from Institute of Microbial Technology; and UP resident Dinesh Kumar. All four have been charged under Sections 7, 12, 13(1) (d) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120 B of the IPC.

The bribe was reportedly given to get an NOC for Kandoi’s packaged drinking water plant — Vrishti Beverages private limited — in Gurugram. While the NOC would be received from Gurugram, permission for the same was to be sent from Chandigarh via Sanjay Pandey. However, Kandoi told the court that he had hired a consultancy company and had given the money to them and was unaware that it was to be used as bribe.

The CBI had a tip-off that bribe would be delivered at the house of accused Midda, the middleman, at Sector 39 B. The money was to be handed over to Sanjay Pandey as the bribe and Dinesh Kumar had brought it. The CBI raided the house of Chander Parkash Midda and recovered Rs 1.5 lakh from a cupboard and arrested the three.