The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday arrested the Marketing officer of Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) of Union Government’s Department of Pharmaceuticals while receiving Rs 15,000 monetary gratification from a pharmaceutical drugs businessman in Berhampur city.
The arrested PMBI employee had demanded the bribe from the trader for verification of documents and sanction of approval for opening a Jan Aushadhi outlet in Berhampur. The accused had initially demanded Rs 20,000 bribe. The bribery sum was later settled at Rs 15,000.
Harassed over the extortion tactics, the complainant informed the CBI’s State headquarters in Bhubaneswar. Accordingly, a trap was laid and the bribe-taking officer was caught red-handed while receiving the bribe from the complainant.
The arrested accused booked under relevant sections of Prevention of Corruption Act has been arrested. He will be remanded to judicial custody tomorrow.