Graft: ₹2cr cash, gold seized during searches

Nagpur: The CBI has arrested two officers of Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) for allegedly taking bribe to renew manufacturing licenses of Rajasthan-based Super Shivshakti Chemical Pvt Ltd. The total ₹2.25 crore cash was seized during searches at different places including about ₹90 lakh from the residence of the two PESO officers.The malpractice, as per director general of police Salim Khan, who heads CBI’s Nagpur region, was brought to fore following technical and manual surveillance.
CBI trapped alleged tout Priyadarshan Deshpande while accepting ₹10 lakh bribe amount from Devi Singh Kachhawaha at an undisclosed location at Seminary Hills on Wednesday. He wanted Deshpande to influence PESO officials, Vivek Kumar and Ashok Kumar Dalela, to help him get the company’s three licences renewed and amended in his favour to maintain its manufacturing capacity up to 75% till March this year.
Sources claim that CBI may unveil a wider officials-businessmen-tout alleged nexus after examining the voluminous cell phone chats, messages and other communication details retrieved from the accused. An amount of 88.70 lakh of the 90 lakh cash seized from PESO officers, was found at Kumar’s Ram Nagar residence during searches on Wednesday.
CBI sources said that a large quantity of gold in the form of bars, biscuits and coins was seized from Deshpande’s residence where the agency also seized 1.25 crore cash.