CBI raids labour commission office; gifts, cash seized
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided the office of the labour commission and found items that had been gifted by banks and airline companies. The CBI, in a statement, said that its Anti Corruption Branch carried surprise checks at Shram Raksha Bhavan on the Sion-Trombay road on November 3 and recovered
various articles from the offices of six officers after receiving complaints against them.
Rishiraj Singh, joint director (CBI) told HT they had received many complaints about the labour commission office.
“We had received several complaints that they take favours. The raid was conducted now because many of these items had been given on the pretext of Diwali,” Singh said.
“We are allowed to accept gifts till a certain value. However, the value of these gifts is much more than the prescribed limit,” Singh said.
The CBI said they received information from reliable sources that some officers were receiving gifts and cash from the employers and owners of various establishments with whom they had official dealings.
The CBI checked the cabins of deputy chief labour commissioner R. Venkateshwarlu, regional labour commissioner, Pradeep K Panigrahi, assistant labour commissioner, Prabhakar K Ragade, assistant labour commissioner, Ramgopal Meena, assistant labour commissioner S Gunahari, and personal assistant to additional labour commissioner (II), KC Singh.
The CBI seized gift boxes containing sweets, dry fruits, electronic items, silver items, Rs 34,000 from four envelopes and gift vouchers.
The CBI said the items were received by these officers from various banks, public sector units, private companies and corporate offices.