Assistant drug controller, drug inspector among 3 arrested by CBI on graft charges

The CBI officials said that they had received information that some officials posted at the Panvel office of Assistant Drug Controller (India) were allegedly taking bribe for granting no objection certificates (NOCs) to manufacturers, exporters, and importers of pharmaceutical drugs.

Subsequently a surprise check was conducted at the office during which it was found that “private persons were collecting bribe money from custom house agents on behalf of public servants for facilitating NOC to their clients i.e. manufacturers, exporters, and importers of pharmaceutical drugs”, the CBI said.

“During the surprise check, cash amount of Rs 1.52 lakh (approx.) was recovered from drawers of public servants and private persons, which the public servants concerned and private persons present in the office could not explain satisfactorily,” a CBI official said.

Hiwale, Nath and Sabbani were taken into custody and later arrested. Two private persons and an employee working on a contractual basis have also been booked by the agency.

“Searches were conducted at the residential premises of all named accused persons which resulted in recovery of incriminating documents and cash amounting to Rs 46.70 lakh (approx.) and gold as well as silver jewellery valued at around Rs 27.80 lakh. Documents pertaining to various immovable properties and other incriminating documents were also recovered during searches,” the CBI officials said.