In a decisive strike against corruption, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended a sales officer from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh. The arrest took place in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, spotlighting yet another instance of graft within public sector enterprises.
The accused, identified as Prateek Tagle, allegedly demanded Rs 2 lakh from a complainant to facilitate the handover of an HPCL retail outlet registered in the name of the complainant’s wife. Facing resistance over the hefty sum, Tagle settled for an initial payment of Rs 1 lakh, with the balance to follow post-completion.
The complainant, after enduring persistent pressure from the officer, lodged a formal complaint with the CBI on January 16. A thorough verification led to a meticulously planned trap operation on January 17. As Tagle accepted the tainted money, CBI sleuths swooped in, recovering the cash and placing him under arrest.
This development underscores the CBI’s relentless pursuit of bribe-takers in critical sectors like energy. Officials indicate that investigations are ongoing to uncover any prior similar demands by Tagle or involvement of other personnel. Broader scrutiny into HPCL’s operations in the region is also on the cards to detect systemic irregularities.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in maintaining integrity within PSUs, where retail outlet handovers have previously been flashpoints for corruption. Legal proceedings against the accused have commenced, with the agency committed to upholding transparency.