CBI arrests Ayush Ministry under secy on bribery charge

An under secretary in the Ayush Ministry fell into a CBI trap after he allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 30 lakh from a liasoning firm for clearing its bill as well as seeking 2% of the bills in the future, officials have said.

R K Khatri, the managing director of government-owned Indian Medicine and Pharmaceutical Corporation (IMPCL), was arrested on Friday following investigations into a complaint filed by Janak Sharma of Panchsheel Pharmaceuticals, which was an authorised liasoning firm for the ministry.

According to the FIR, Khatri was not clearing the bills of Panchsheel Pharmaceuticals, which is legally authorised liaison firm of IMPCL. It claimed that Khatri was demanding a bribe of Rs 30 lakh for clearing bills.

He has "further demanded a bribe of 2% of the total business in future and has threatened the complainant if the demanded bribe amount is not paid to him, he will engage some other firm", the FIR said.

After Sharma approached the CBI, the agency asked the complainant to meet Khatri to generate further evidence.

Sharma went to meet Khatri at his office and later they went to a restaurant where the officer allegedly repeated the demand, which was recorded by the complainant.

"The complainant bargained the bribe amount to Rs 20 lakh and further the suspect officer assured that his firm will be retained till December and he will try to retain in future also. The suspect officer further settled the bribe as 2% of total business in future. The suspect officer also directed the complainant to pay him bribe after arranging the same," the FIR said.