CBI books its two officials in graft case

The CBI has registered case against two of its officials, a district administration employee of Uttar Pradesh government and some unidentified state police personnel for their alleged involvement in "illegal and corrupt practice" for settling Yamuna Express Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) land scam case. In its First Information Report (FIR) filed on Saturday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) named its Inspector V.S. Rathore and Assistant Sub-Inspector Sunil Dutt. Rathore is posted in the central probe agency's anti-corruption branch in Uttar Pradeh's Ghaziabad district on deputation from state police while Dutt is employed with the CBI academy Ghaziabad.

Besides them, Ranveer Singh, who is posted as Tehsildar in Uttar Pradesh's administration and a suspect in YEIDA land scam case, has been named in the FIR. The YEIDA case is learnt to be under process of transfer to the CBI by Uttar Pradesh government. They have been booked under charges of criminal conspiracy for obtaining undue advantage by the public servants for dishonest performance of duty, undue advantage to influence public servants by corrupt and illegal means and bribing of public servants.

According to the FIR, both the CBI sleuths are indulged in "illegal and corrupt practice". Singh, in connivance with Rathore, Dutt, unidentified officials of Uttar Pradesh police and other persons, is accused of indulging in YEIDA cases in order to obtain undue relief for himself and other suspects from police.

He is accused of paying a bribe of Rs 10 lakh to Rathore and Dutt on January 31 to manage the investigation of the case with the help of state police. Both the CBI officials demanded Rs 25 lakh as bribe from Singh to settle his case, and the deal was finalised in Rs 20 lakh, said the FIR.