Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 6 (HBTV): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested four people in connection with a case involving the demand and acceptance of a bribe of INR 1.20 lakh in exchange for the payment of outstanding bills from a private company, an official release said.  

According to the central agency, the arrested individuals include an assistant director of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) of Mumbai; and three individuals consisting of a director, a senior manager, and an unknown person. 

The CBI registered a case against three persons including the Assistant Director (Technical) of FSSAI, Mumbai; and two private persons, viz., a director and a senior manager of a Thane-based private company, and another person. 

The names of the accused persons were unavailable at press time.  

The agency noted that the case was registered on allegations that the said FSSAI assistant director, in connivance with a number of intermediaries, was involved in demanding and accepting bribes from food business operators and other parties.  

It was also alleged that the accused FSSAI official agreed to accept bribe from the accused senior manager of the private company, who would deliver the bribe on behalf of the director of the company, to clear pending bills.

The CBI laid a trap and caught the assistant director red-handed while accepting the bribe of INR 1,20,000 from the senior manager and another representative of the private company.  

The agency informed that searches were also conducted at the office and residential premises of the accused persons, which led to the recovery of approximately INR 37.3 lakh cash, about 45 grams of gold; and documents pertaining to various immovable properties; and other incriminating documents. 

The arrested persons were produced before the court and have been remanded to police custody until May 8, 2024, it added. 

(ANI) This is a syndicated news feed. HBTV has edited it for clarity.