
Mukesh Kumar, an employee of a public sector bank in Raigad, is currently under investigation for corruption. The case revolves around an alleged bribery incident amounting to ₹1.2 lakh involving the family of Suresh Thakur, a deceased retired employee of the state transport department. Thakur’s daughter initiated the inquiry by filing a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The accusations claim that Kumar demanded a bribe in exchange for facilitating the transfer of approximately ₹10 lakh, which represented the redemption funds from Thakur’s matured mutual fund policy. According to the complaint received on December 12, Kumar informed the complainant that her father’s Senior Citizen Account had matured, and the matured amount of ₹10 lakh should be deposited into her mother’s account, as she was the nominee for the said account.
During a telephonic conversation on December 11, Kumar allegedly insisted that the complainant meet him at the bank along with her mother. In this meeting, he purportedly demanded a bribe of ₹25,000 for the smooth transfer of the matured amount into the mother’s account. It’s worth noting that the complainant’s mother had been receiving pension payments following her husband’s demise.
The complaint further revealed that Kumar disclosed additional details, stating that the current value of the mutual fund policy was ₹10.9 lakh. He purportedly promised to redeem ₹90,000 from the policy and transfer it to the savings account of the complainant’s mother. Additionally, Kumar allegedly assured the complainant that he would arrange for a systematic withdrawal plan, resulting in an automatic monthly deposit of ₹6,500 in the mother’s savings account.
However, the situation took a darker turn when Kumar allegedly influenced the complainant to keep these details secret from her mother. He demanded a staggering ₹1.20 lakh for these services and even offered ₹20,000 to the complainant for her compliance. A source from the CBI revealed that, during negotiations, Kumar agreed to accept a partial payment of ₹30,000 on December 15, with the remaining amount to be paid after the completion of the ₹90,000 redemption.
The CBI discreetly verified the allegations in the complaint with the presence of independent witnesses. Subsequently, it was revealed that Kumar potentially violated Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which deals with public servants taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act. As a result, the CBI registered a First Information Report against Kumar on December 14 and initiated a thorough investigation into the matter.