The CBI has recovered Rs 2.15 crore in cash and jewellery worth about Rs 30 lakh from the residence of a top official of the Ministry of Agriculture posted in Kolkata. The CBI has conducted raids in his office and house for his alleged involvement in leading a nexus where adulterated agricultural products imported from different countries were issued forged clearance certificate.
During the searches, which are continuing, at the residence of RK Shasihar, plant protection officer, Regional Quarrantine Office, Kolkata, Rs 2.15 crore in cash and about Rs 30 lakh worth jewellery was seized, the sources said. They said the searches in connection with the alleged forgery began on Saturday and continued till Monday evening. The searches were conducted at 24 locations in Kolkata and two locations in New Delhi. The CBI sources have confirmed that he has been running this nexus for a long time “Information further revealed that Shasihar has amassed huge assets through corrupt and illegal means, which is reasonably suspected to be disproportionate to his known sources of income,” the FIR said. It was also revealed that Shasihar has been demanding and accepting illegal gratification from certain importers and exporters for extending undue favour to them for processing and issuance of requisite clearance/ release order for import/ export of agri-based commodities like wheat, pulses. During the period from June 2017 onwards till date, a number of shipments of agri-based products, such as wheat and pulses have been imported by a cartel of importers represented by Anurag Tulshan of M/s. Atcorp Global Pvt. ltd. Kolkata, from Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria and other countries via Turkey, as well as from other countries like China, Spain, France, Belgium.