Bureaucrat held for graft sent to CBI custody

NEW DELHI - A court Thursday ordered a five-day Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody for an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer arrested for corruption along with three excise officers and two accomplices.

The accused, including O. Ravi, joint secretary in charge of disaster management in the home ministry, were arrested by the CBI late Wednesday on charges of corruption, fraud and criminal conspiracy and causing a staggering loss of Rs.340 crore to the exchequer.

Special judge O.P. Saini asked the CBI to interrogate the accused and present them before the court May 3.

“Ravi, two excise inspectors - Ramesh Mahyavanshi and Vijay Halpati - and excise sub-inspector Suresh Dhodi were arrested after interrogation,” CBI spokesperson Harsh Bhal told IANS.

“Ravi’s close confidant Rakesh Rastogi, who used to accumulate and safeguard the officer’s illegal wealth, and Ashok Khemani, director of Royal Distillery, are also under arrest,” he added.

The CBI Tuesday registered a case of fraud and criminal conspiracy for evasion of tax and value added tax (VAT) to the tune of Rs.340 crore.

The accused allegedly connived with six Daman-based distilleries to sell unauthorised, under-reported liquor to the neighbouring states of Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra, evading excise duties by preparing fake documents.

“One of the distillers was in regular touch with Ravi to utilise his services, for which he (the bureaucrat) was paid Rs.25 lakh,” the CBI officer added.

The CBI searched 36 places linked to the accused in Daman, Mumbai and New Delhi. Offices of the distilleries in Daman were also raided.

The home ministry has asked the Department of Personnel and Training to suspend Ravi.