India
CBI Arrests Plant Quarantine Official and Intermediary in ₹1 Lakh Bribery Probe
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Assistant Director Sudhakara TM of the Plant Quarantine Station (PQS) in Visakhapatnam and private individual Sunkavalli Satyanarayana in a bribery case involving the clearance of imported containers in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. According to the CBI, Sudhakara demanded ₹1 lakh from a private firm to facilitate the clearance of containers awaiting approval from the PQS. The firm allegedly paid the bribe through Satyanarayana, who acted as an intermediary. On 6 November, after a complaint and verification exercise, the CBI laid a trap and caught the Assistant Director accepting the ₹1 lakh bribe via Satyanarayana. The entire amount was recovered during the operation. Both men were arrested and produced before the competent court in Visakhapatnam on 7 November. The CBI subsequently searched premises linked to the accused in Visakhapatnam, Faridabad in Haryana and Thimanapalli village in Karnataka’s Kolar district, and is examining documents and other material recovered. The investigation continues to determine the involvement of other named individuals.
Frequently asked questions
Who were arrested in the bribery case?
Assistant Director Sudhakara TM of the Plant Quarantine Station in Visakhapatnam and private individual Sunkavalli Satyanarayana.
What was the amount of the bribe?
₹1 lakh.
Where did the CBI search premises linked to the accused?
Visakhapatnam, Faridabad in Haryana, and Thimanapalli village in Karnataka’s Kolar district.