TRAI officer in CBI net for demanding bribe from cable operators in Himachal 

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a senior research officer from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur-based cable operators on Friday.

According to the CBI, it registered a case on the complaint of a cable operator who alleged that the accused TRAI officer was demanding Rs 1 lakh bribe.

“The complainant is a licence holder of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for running cable services in Sirmaur district,” an officer said. The complaint was filed on behalf of five other cable operators, alleging that the accused officer was favouring them by improperly assessing their regulatory documents — the Quarterly Performance Monitoring Reports (Q-PMRs) — and withholding recommendations to cancel their licenses.

As per the TRAI guidelines, cable operators must submit their Q-PMRs to the officer, who after assessment or perusal, accepts or recommends cancellation of their licenses if some discrepancies are found. As per the FIR, accessed by The Tribune, the accused reportedly told the operators that he would take favourable actions regarding their Q-PMRs and warned that their licenses could be cancelled unless they paid the bribe.

“He has also threatened other cable operators for cancellation of licences and asked them to contact the complainant in this regard,” an excerpt from the FIR read.

Following the complaint, the CBI registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and verified the allegations. The accused was arrested while accepting the bribe of Rs 1 lakh at his office in Naroji Nagar, New Delhi. The CBI also raided the officer's residential and official premises in Greater Noida and New Delhi, where incriminating documents were recovered. Further investigation is underway, the officer added.