CBI case against 6 Vizag EPFO officials for corruption

Visakhapatnam: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Visakhapatnam, has filed cases against five officials of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) for alleged corrupt practices.

CBI Visakhapatnam and vigilance officials of EPFO conducted a joint surprise check at the EPFO regional office in Visakhapatnam. They found that during the period 1 April 2020 and 25 April 2021, the accused officials – section supervisors P. Ramakrishna, K.V.S.S.M Varahal, and K. Viswanadham and senior social security assistants S. Kishore and M Murali Krishna – were providing various services like generation of ECRs and other services to various companies after office hours and during holidays. The money they received was credited to their accounts and the accounts of their family members.

Between 1 April 2020 and 23 April 2021, P. Mahalakshmi, the wife of section officer P. Ramakrishna, received a total amount of Rs. 4.50 lakh on different dates. The transactions' description was stated as "PF fee." Meanwhile, the statement of account of M. Malathi, wife of senior social security assistant M. Murali Krishna, showed that Rs. 1.20 lakh (approx.) were credited during the period 1 April 2020 and 23 April 2021. For some of the transactions, the description read "PF consultancy."

Further, it was also revealed that K.V.S.S.M Varahalu, S. Kishore, and K. Viswanacham provided EPF-related services to unknown private persons by abusing their official position and receiving money for the same.

A case has been registered under various sections of the PC Act 1988 (as amended in 2018).