Staffer of TRS MP Kavitha Maloth among 3 arrested by CBI for taking bribe

Hyderabad: The sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation on 1 April arrested three persons while accepting a bribe of Rs. 1 lakh at Saraswati Apartments (Parliament residential complex) in New Delhi.The accused have been identified as Rajib Bhattacharya, Shubhanji Gupta, and Durgesh Kumar Maurya.

The investigating agency has confirmed to NewsMeter that, two of the three allegedly 'claimed' to be staff members (PAs) of TRS parliamentarian Ms. Kavitha Maloth representing Mahbubabad constituency. However the MP has denied any connections.

It all began when, Manmeet Singh Lamba (complainant) received a call from Rajib Bhattacharya on 15th March 2021. He introduced himself as the PA of MP Kavitha Maloth from Telangana. "Rajib threatened me that there were many complaints against the construction being carried out by me at D-3, Sardar Nagar, Delhi - 110009. He also informed that MCD officer Mr. Malik Shab was his friend and both would save my house from demolition. Further, Rajib directed me to contact with Ms. Shubhangi Gupta, coordinator of MP Kavitha Maloth" the complainant told CBI .

According to the FIR, Lamba confessed that Rajib resorted to threaten him that if he would not settle the matter he (Rajib) would get the house demolished with the help of Malik. Following this Mr Lamba contacted Shubhangi Gupta who in return demanded Rs. 5 Lakhs from the complainant, but later after rounds of negotiation, it came down to Rs. 1 lakh on the request of complainant.

"Shubhangi Gupta got introduced Durgesh Kumar with complainant through conversation and told that he is PA of Kavita Madam. Durgesh Kumar pressurized complainant for speedy settlement. It was on Shubhangi's direction that complainant had come to 401, Saraswati Appartment, Parliament, B.D. Marg, New Delhi," CBI officials said.

Speaking to NewsMeter, an official said, "Acting on specific inputs, the sleuths caught the three red-handed while accepting bribe at Saraswati Apartments (Parliament residential complex), New Delhi on Thursday afternoon. Bribe of Rs. 1 lakh was demanded from the complainant Mr Manmeet Singh Lamba for zero hindrance in the construction of his house and to keep away Municipal Corporation of Delhi officials." The MP confirmed to news reporters that Durgesh Kumar works as her driver, however denied knowing the other two, she called for strict action.

The official statement of the CBI said, "CBI arrested three persons in Delhi allegedly working with a MP in a bribery case. A case under u/s Section 120B IPC r/w 7A of PC Act, 1988 (As amended in 2018) and Section 384 of Indian Penal Code has been booked against Rajib Bhattacharya, Shubhangi Gupta and other unknown public servant".