CBI arrests Chandigarh official for bribery (Lead)

Chandigarh/New Delhi July 18 (IANS) The CBI has arrested the Member-Secretary of the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee on charges of accepting bribe an official said on Tuesday.

Birendra Choudhary was arrested on Monday for demanding and receiving Rs 1 lakh in bribe for not taking any adverse action against a person the official said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday also searched Choudhary s residence which led to the recovery of Rs 2 lakh in cash and certain documents pertaining to properties and bank accounts.

The agency registered a case against Choudhary on Monday after a Chandigarh-based private firm owner filed a complaint alleging that the official had taken bribes from him and three other businessmen.

"It was alleged that a show cause notice was issued to the complainant by Choudhary regarding revoking of consent issued to him on December 6 2016. After having received the notice the complainant met Choudhary several times to explain his version but he did not hear him properly " a CBI official said.

The complainant then along with three other businessmen with similar issues met Choudhary again.

"During the meeting Choudhary demanded a bribe of Rs 50 000 from each businessman for not taking any adverse action against them. The alleged bribe amount was subsequently reduced to Rs 25 000 each totalling Rs 1 lakh from four businessmen including the complainant who was asked by the Member-Secretary to deliver the said bribe amount."

--IANS
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