CBI arrests TN registrar of companies in bribery case

A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team on Tuesday arrested Tamil Nadu Registrar of Companies Manu Neethi Cholan for allegedly receiving a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from noted industrialist and former MP M A M Ramaswamy.

Sources from the CBI told Deccan Herald that reliable information was received that Cholan had demanded Rs 10 lakh as illegal gratification from Ramaswamy, the chairman of  Chettinadu group of companies.  

“The information further revealed that there is an attempt by rival group within the management to take control over the Chettinadu group of companies during the annual general body meeting to be held on Wednesday in Chennai.

Cholan demanded the money for not approving the decision that is going to be taken during the proposed meeting,” the sources added. The meeting was also aimed at removing the industrialist from the chairmanship of the companies owned by him.

CBI officials intercepted the car in which Cholan was travelling. The bribe amount of Rs 10 lakh along with his car was seized. After conducting searches at the residence of Cholan and at the office of the Chettinad House at Raja Annamalaipuram in the city, several incriminating documents and a computer hard disc were seized.  

Further,  Rs 20 lakh was also seized from the residence of Cholan. After the arrest, Cholan was produced before the special judge Court for CBI Cases in Chennai. 

Sources further said that a special team from the CBI was also interrogating Ramaswamy at his ancestral Chettinad House in the city.