Kozhikode: Stash seized from passport officer
Malappuram passport officer was caught taking Rs 50,000 bribe
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-07-22 06:22 GMT
KOZHIKODE: The CBI’s anti-corruption wing has seized Rs 13 lakh in cash and 80 sovereigns of jewellery from Malappuram passport officer P. Ramakrishnan. The officer and a passport agent, Abdul Ameer, were arrested by CBI sleuths from Kochi Monday evening while taking Rs 50,000 in bribe from an applicant.
He was under the CBI scanner after they got information on his close ties with the agents and acted when they received a written complaint from the applicant pestered by the agent and the officer for money.
Sources told DC that Mr Ramakrishnan had demanded Rs 1 lakh and the informant agreed to pay Rs 50,000 in advance as inst-ructed by CBI officials.
The seizures of cash and jewellery, besides several documents indicating accumulation of properties beyond known sources of income, were made during raids on his house and office.
CBI sources said the scrutiny of the documents was progressing and he was suspected to have acquired benami properties in different parts of the state. The anti-corruption wi-ng has been investigating a corruption case against former Malappuram pas-sport officer, Abdul Rasheed. “Cases of corruption and collusion of officials with agents at the Mala-ppuram passport office has been reported to the CBI several years back. Applicants are looted by the agents with the help of officials. The CBI del-ayed the arrest, actually” a passport office staff said.
A CBI Court in Kochi remanded Ramakrishnan and Abdul Ameer to judicial custody on Tuesday. The duo was lodged at the Kakkanad district jail. Bail petitions filed by the two will be taken up for hearing on June 24.