CBI arrested Assistant Registrar of Companies for taking Bribe of Rs.3 Lakh from Company Director

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested an accused who is Assistant Registrar of Companies and Inspector (AROC) in Pune for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs.3 lakh from the Director of a Mumbai based private company during the trap proceedings carried out by CBI on a complaint.

The CBI filed a case against the accused Asst. Registrar of Companies and Inspector, Pune on the basis of a complaint filed by an ex-director of a Mumbai-based private company alleging that the accused demanded a bribe in connection with an inquiry launched by the ROC, Pune Office against the said Mumbai-based private company.

It was stated that the accused issued an order dated 02.08.2024 to the said Company and its Director under Section 206(4) of the Companies Act, 2013. The accused reportedly issued a summons on August 27, 2024, ordering auditors, directors, and ex-directors of the complainant’s company to appear before him on September 5, 2024.

In compliance with the said summon, the CS of the complainant’s company along with his CA allegedly met the accused AROC, Pune when the accused indirectly demanded a bribe in order to show favour to the complainant’s company in the instant matter.

It was further alleged that said CS called the accused who demanded a bribe of Rs.3 lakh for helping in ongoing enquiry and to resolve the matter by way of favouring the complainant’s company.

The accused AROC then reportedly threatened the Director of the private company on September 23, 2024, with a hefty penalty and prosecution of all Directors. It was further said that, out of fear of severe penalties and prosecution, the CS negotiated the demand with the accused, who reduced it to Rs.5 lakh. Due to the accused’s persistent demands for bribes, the complainant’s company was allegedly forced to pay Rs.3 lakh as part payment to the accused on 07.10.2024 via CS, and the accused requested the remaining bribe amount of Rs.2 lakh before the order was issued in the continuing investigation.

Later, after negotiating, the accused increased his demand for a bribe to Rs.6 lakh and demanded that the remaining bribe amount of Rs.3 lakh be provided to him rather than Rs.2 lakh.

The CBI set a trap and nabbed the accused red-handed while seeking and taking the remaining bribe of Rs.3 lakh from a Director of the aforementioned private company in his office in Pune. Later, the culprit was arrested and brought before the Court of Special Judge, CBI, Mumbai. The accused has been remanded to police custody until October 19, 2024.

The investigation is continuing.