The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested Suresh Chandra Chaudhary, former Hardoi district president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and Piyush Kumar, branch manager of Bank of Baroda’s Kachhauna branch. They were arrested for allegedly accepting a ₹45,000 bribe to help sanction and withdraw a loan under the Chief Minister Yuva Udyami Yojana, officials said on Wednesday.
CBI officials said that Chaudhary works as a recovery agent linked to the bank branch. He also runs a banking correspondent (BC) point in the area. He was allegedly caught red-handed while receiving the bribe from the complainant.
Bribery means giving or accepting money, gifts, or any benefit to influence an official decision or to get work done illegally. In India, bribery is a serious criminal offence and is punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
If a public servant accepts or demands a bribe to perform or influence official duties, it is a criminal offence.
Any person who gives or promises a bribe to a public servant to obtain an undue advantage can also be punished.
The punishment for bribery can include imprisonment from 3 years up to 7 years along with a monetary fine.
Both the person who offers the bribe and the person who accepts the bribe can be prosecuted under the law.
The action followed a complaint filed by Seema Devi, who had applied for a ₹5 lakh loan under the government scheme. In her complaint, she said that the branch manager demanded ₹45,000 to approve the loan and allow withdrawal of the funds. She also said that she was told to give the money to Chaudhary.
After receiving the complaint, the CBI Anti-Corruption Bureau in Lucknow registered an FIR against both accused. The case was registered under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for criminal conspiracy and Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The CBI then conducted a trap operation. During the operation, Chaudhary was allegedly caught while taking the bribe money on behalf of the bank official.
According to sources, the CBI team detained Chaudhary while he was attending a review meeting of party workers in Nirmalpur Saphia village in Hardoi. Officials arrived in vehicles with Delhi and Lucknow registration numbers.
He and one of his associates were taken to a railway guest house in Kachhauna town for questioning. Sources said the questioning continued for several hours.
Officials said the investigation is still ongoing. The agency is also checking whether the accused have assets that are disproportionate to their known sources of income.
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