In a major operation conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), four individuals, including two joint director-ranked officers from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and an associate of Alok Industries, were arrested on charges of bribery amounting to ₹3 lakh. The arrests came after an extensive investigation into corrupt practices within the ministry and its associated companies.
The accused have been identified as Joint Directors Manjit Singh and Puneet Duggal, and Senior Technical Assistant Ruhi Arora, all of whom held positions in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Additionally, Reshabh Raizada, an associate of Alok Industries, which was acquired by Reliance Industries Ltd in 2019, was also apprehended in connection with the case.
The CBI's investigation was initiated based on information suggesting that Reshabh Raizada had established close contacts with Joint Director Puneet Duggal, seeking favourable treatment for a matter related to his company pending with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. In exchange for this undue advantage, Raizada allegedly offered a bribe to Duggal.
The bribery scheme involved a chain of collusion among the accused officials. Puneet Duggal assured Raizada that he would expedite the matter, and subsequently, the bribe amount of ₹3 lakh was delivered to Duggal by Raizada at his residence in Ahmedabad.
The matter then made its way to the office of the Director General of Corporate Affairs, where the file was brought to the attention of Joint Director Manjit Singh for further examination. Senior Technical Assistant Ruhi Arora was also involved in the process, providing updates to Raizada through Duggal.
Based on instructions from Duggal, Arora convinced Singh to support Raizada's cause and promised to deliver the bribe as a reward for their assistance.
The CBI, acting on a tip-off, conducted searches at multiple locations, including Delhi, Gurugram, and Chennai, where the accused resided. During the raids, the agency seized approximately ₹59.80 lakh in cash, along with several incriminating documents and digital evidence, strengthening the case against the culprits.
Following the operation, the CBI promptly arrested all four individuals on charges of engaging in corrupt and illegal activities, conspiring to accept bribes, and favouring Alok Industries in an ongoing investigation pertaining to the company's alleged involvement in illegal and unethical business activities.
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