Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Shubham Tyagi, an Enforcement Officer posted at the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) office in Patiala, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹2.5 lakh from a contractor.
According to the CBI, the accused had initially demanded ₹3 lakh in exchange for providing relief in an ongoing inquiry related to EPF complaints against the contractor. The amount was later negotiated down to ₹2.5 lakh.
Contractor approached the CBI and alleged that Tyagi had been threatening him with action over pending PF-related complaints involving his employees unless the bribe was paid. After verifying the complaint, the CBI laid a trap.
Tyagi was caught red-handed while allegedly accepting the bribe at the EPFO office in Sector 17, Chandigarh. The agency recovered the entire bribe amount from his possession and subsequently arrested him.
CBI has registered a case against the accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He is expected to be produced before the CBI Special Court, where the agency is likely to seek his custodial remand for further interrogation.
The investigation has now been expanded to determine whether other EPFO officials were involved in the alleged corruption. The CBI is also examining the accused's bank accounts, financial transactions, and assets as part of the ongoing probe.
