Corporate espionage: CBI raids various ministries, recovers Rs 60 lakh
New Delhi/Mumbai: Busting a major ring of a well-known Chartered Accountant and government servants, CBI has registered a case of alleged sale of confidential documents related to foreign investment policies which were passed on to major corporate groups of the country.
CBI sources said a major coordinated search operation at various locations including six in Delhi and two in Mumbai. Several offices of Finance Ministry and Commerce Ministry, residences of its officials and a well-known Mumbai-based Chartered Accountant were covered.
The sources said a trove of confidential documents and Rs 60 lakh cash was allegedly recovered from the residence of the Chartered Accountant besides large number of electronic documents have been found on the laptop, tablets and hard disks recovered from the residence of officials and CA.
The sources said Chartered Accountant Khemchand Gandhi, Under Secretary in Department of Disinvestment and Grievances Ashok Kumar Singh and Section Officer in the Department of Economic Affairs Lala Ram Sharma have been detained by the agency.
It is alleged that the government servants were selling documents related to Foreign Investment Policies which are being floated in the ministries to Gandhi who in turn passed them on to big corporates for a price.
The sources said big names in banking, pharmaceuticals and realty business are under the scanner of the agency which CBI officials termed as "tip of the iceberg". All these groups under scanner have applied for foreign investments.
The sources said agency has registered a case of criminal conspiracy, theft under IPC and misuse of official position against the trio.
At least 16 persons have till now been arrested in connection with the corporate espionage case related to the natural gas and oil ministry.
The Delhi Police had earlier arrested Jitender Nagpal, personal assistant to a joint secretary in the Forest and Environment Ministry, and Vipan Kumar, a personal assistant to a member of the Union Public Service Commission in connection with the case.
The two, along with another accused, Lokesh Sharma, have been sent to judicial custody till March 17 by a Delhi court.
