In a major crackdown on corruption, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Chintan Raghuvanshi, Deputy Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Odisha, on bribery charges. The arrest was made in Bhubaneswar, where the senior officer was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 20 lakh.
IRS officer struck Rs 50 lakh deal with mine operator
Raghuvanshi, a senior officer from the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), had allegedly negotiated a Rs 50 lakh deal with a local mine operator. The bribe was intended to ensure that the mine operator’s name would be removed from an ongoing money laundering investigation being conducted by the ED. According to CBI sources, Rs 20 lakh was the first instalment of the illicit payment.
Caught in the act
The CBI, acting on credible intelligence, laid a trap and arrested Raghuvanshi while he was in the process of accepting the bribe.
CBI investigation underway
Following the arrest, further searches and investigations are underway to uncover the full extent of the corruption and to identify any additional individuals involved.
The ED has not yet issued an official statement on the matter.