Arrested CEO of Censor Board Rakesh Kumar had developed a taste for all luxurious things in life during his over seven months’ stint at the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) apparently with the “speed money” received by him in lieu of timely issuance of Censor certificates.
Apart from recovery Rs 10.5 lakh in cash, the CBI also seized from his home 33 expensive watches of elite brands like Rado, Rolex, Tissot and longines among others, speaking volumes about the quantum jump in Kumar’s lifestyle. Some of the watches are said to be worth way above his annual income from salary.
Over one kilo of gold has already been recovered from two bank lockers owned by Kumar and another over one kg of gold in the form of jewellery seized from his Mumbai residence during searches. The CBI has recovered documents relating to possession of six properties by Kumar and his family members. The arrested Censor Board CEO allegedly parked ill-gotten gains at regular intervals in savings bank accounts in Delhi.
The upwardly mobile lifestyle bolstered his confidence so much that he allegedly negotiated underhand deals and took bribes in broad daylight at various Café Coffee Day outlets and gaming zones of malls in Mumbai. He also took bribes at his residence P-43, Budhwar Park, Cuffe Parade, a posh locality in Southern Mumbai.
Not only this, Kumar even dealt in a brazen manner with the authorised agents demanding bribes, often through phone calls, SMS and WhatsApp communication. Apart from receiving bribes from a network of authorised agents for Censor certification of regional and budget films, Kumar was approached directly by producers of big banner films.
CBI sources said Kumar used to sign on the Censor certificates on the basis of requests received on his mobile numbers 9969445454 and 9987587788 from Censor Board representative Krishan Kumar Palli (having mobile numbers 9820538146 and 9664937607). The data analysis of Palli’s mobile phones done by Technical Analysis Forensic Unit and printout of WhatsApp messages sent to Kumar revealed that numerous Censor certificates were issued out of turn in lieu of monetary consideration.
“There appears to be a larger racket operating in CBFC by way of conspiracy among the agents, members of CBFC and its CEO Rakesh Kumar,” an official said.
CCTV footage has corroborated the disclosures made by arrested Advisory Panel Member Sarvesh Jaiswal, who had been collecting money on behalf of Kumar for the last two months before being arrested by the CBI. Arrested agent Shripati Mishra had paid Jaiswal about Rs 3.5 lakh.
Palli has told the investigators that he had collected around Rs 18 to Rs 25 lakh during the last about eight months on behalf of Kumar. He had handed over the money ranging between Rs 15,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh in envelopes to Kumar at his residence.