CBI unearths scam in regional Plant Quarantine Organisation

C Shivakumar and Prince Jebakumar

Chennai:

Central Bureau of Investigation arrested five officials of Plant Quarantine Organisation in Meenambakkam for taking bribes to clear consignments imported to India.

The officials, whose duty is to prevent the entry, establishment and spread of exotic pests in India as per the provisions of The Destructive Insects & Pests Act, 1914, were accused of taking bribes to clear consignments without any proper checks.

The five --- assistant plant protection officer, K T Suresh, assistant plant protection officer R K Jain, assistant director Gnanasambandam, deputy director (II) Dr Elangovan and deputy director Dr Jasbir Singh were produced before a CBI court on Wednesday and remanded to judicial custody till September 12. 

The racket was unearthed following a complaint by one Srivatsan from a Kerala based company National Roof Garden which was importing Thai orchids and saplings on August 7 stating that the authorities are demanding Rs 2,000 bribe to get a certificate from the regional plant quarantine station which is mandatory for import of exotic species. Sources said a trap was laid and assistant plant protection officer K T Suresh was caught red-handed accepting the bribe.

The investigating agency also seized Rs one lakh from the X-ray room, which was alleged to be the bribe amount collected during the day besides another Rs 34,000 from Suresh’s pockets. It was revealed that per month Rs 12 to Rs 15 lakh is being collected as bribe received from the shipments.

Sources said that raids from Suresh house also yielded Rs 1.46 lakh allegedly bribe amount collected during the last two days. His State Bank of India account in Meenambakkam, which has an amount worth Rs 3 lakh, was frozen. During questioning Suresh named the other four officials and said they were partners in crime following which CBI conducted a detailed enquiry.

The enquiry revealed that Dr Ilangovan bought two properties in Chennai, one worth Rs 50 lakh and another Rs 40 lakh besides he also had amount worth Rs 3 lakh deposited in the bank. Similarly, Gnanasambandam bought two properties worth Rs 72 lakh. Investigations also revealed that Jasbir, a native of Uttar Pradesh had Rs 4 lakh in fixed deposits besides he has brought some Life Insurance Corporation policies in his native place Saharanpur. Further investigations are on.