Bribery scandal: CBI books two from AP for conniving with a middlewoman

Hyderabad: Central Bureau of Investigation has filed an FIR against two from Andhra Pradesh for conniving with a woman lobbyist who has contact with senior officials of various ministries in the Centre.

CBI FIR named Sariki Ramachandra Rao, a resident of Vissakoderu in Palakoderu Mandal of West Godavari district, and Nellore resident MV Krishnaiah as accused along with Monika Gill. The latter is a resident of Sant Nagar in East of Kailash in Delhi. Monika had developed contacts at various ministries and departments including the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

The Bureau started a preliminary enquiry on April 2019 based on source information that revealed Monika Gill’s involvement with “undesirable activities”. She contacts private persons to get their pending works done in the Union government by taking bribe on behalf of public servants.

Ramachandra Rao in 2013 had applied with the Legal Metrology Department of Ministry of Consumer Affairs for setting up a government-empanelled laboratory of weights and measures in Andhra Pradesh.

“Monika Gill has assured them of facilitating the processing of their file in Legal Metrology by influencing public servants. Ramachandra Rao has agreed to pay Rs 70 lakh bribe to Monika Gill. Rao paid part of the payment to Monika in the form of cash, cheque and bank transfer,” the investigation revealed.

Rao deposited Rs 8.19 lakh after February 2018 in Axis Bank in Monika’s name. Preliminary enquiry revealed that Monika was in contact with Arun Kumar Singh, who is an official in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. She transferred Rs 1 lakh into an account in his name.

CBI booked a case under 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC, and Section 8 of Prevention of Corruption Act against the four accused including Monika, Arun Kumar Singh and the two private persons from Andhra Pradesh.

Delhi CBI and ACB Inspector Dharmendra Kumar filed the complaint.