CHANDIGARH: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested Birendra Choudhary, member secretary of Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee, for taking Rs 1 lakh as bribe.
Based on a complaint registered by a proprietor of a private firm, the apex investigating agency registered a case on Monday under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Choudhary and arrested him.
Biren Choudhary had issued a show-cause notice to the proprietor regarding revocation of consent issued to him on December 6, 2016, to undertake some work. After getting the notice, the complainant met him many times to explain his side of the story but he was allegedly not heard.
Choudhary purpotedly demanded Rs 50,000 from the proprietor and three other businessmen who faced a similar situation. Rs 1 lakh was decided as bribe to be paid for their notices to be revoked.
The four businessmen approached the apex agency and a trap was laid by the CBI.
The accused officer was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe. Search was conducted at the residence, which led to recovery of another Rs 2 lakh and documents pertaining to properties and bank accounts.