A team of Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths held the deputy drug controller (contractual) S Babu red handed while receiving Rs 50,000 bribe in his office on Tuesday. Just few months back, the house of the accused was searched in a case of amassing disproportionate property during which property worth lakhs was detected. The ACB team arrested Babu from his office.
According to police department sources, Dhamtari resident Toshan Chandrakar had filed a complaint with the Anti Corruption department alleging that he owns a firm Anandi Chemicals at Shatabdi Nagar, Raipur. On may 17, 2013 he had filed an application in the office of Controller, Food and Drugs Administration seeking licence for repackaging of Potassium Permanganate and Sodium Bicarbonate. When he contacted deputy food and drug controller S Babu posted in the Food controller office, he allegedly demanded Rs 1 lakh bribe for the same. Chandrakar then lodged complaint with the ACB which in turn verified the allegation through one of its officials who assisted Chandrakar in negotiating the deal with Babu. The deal was finally struck for Rs 50 thousand.
The deputy drug controller asked Chandrakar to come with the money on Tuesday in his office. The ACB team gave the money to Chandrakar and sent him to Babu while they remained outside. As per schedule, Chandrakar went to the office of the deputy drug controller where S Babu after taking the money from the victim kept in his drawer. After getting signal the ACB team waiting outside entered the office of Babu and seized the money and also arrested him. A case under Sections 7, 13(1) D and 13 (2) of Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused. The ACB team which executed the action comprised additional police superintendent Manoj Khiladi, DSP BS Paikra, Inspectors J lakra, BS Rathod and others.