New Delhi: National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) Chairman-cum-Managing Director AK Srivastava, who was caught allegedly taking bribe and is in CBI custody now, has been suspended by the government.
The mines ministry suspended Srivastava based on CBI charges, a top official said. BL Bagra, Director (Finance), has been given the additional charge of chairman-cum-managing director till further orders, the official added.
AK Srivastava, his wife Chandni along with their two accomplices Bhushan Lal Bajaj and his wife Anita Bajaj were sent to Central Bureau of Investigation custody till March 3 in a bribery case. They were arrested by the CBI on Friday night in New Delhi and produced at the Patiala House Court on Saturday.
"The case is required to be thoroughly investigated and for that sustained interrogation of the accused persons is required. Accordingly, I am satisfied that prayer for police custody of accused persons is justified," Special CBI judge OP Saini said.
The CBI had demanded seven days remand of the accused to unearth details of criminal conspiracy.
Earlier, there was there was high drama at the Patiala House Court when the four accused were produced. Chandni Srivastav broke down inside the court and claimed that her husband was not involved in the bribery case. She pleaded that the matter was between her and the Bajajs only, adding that Srivastava was not involved in the dealings.
Srivastava also pleaded before the court to not send him to police custody as he would lose his job if put in custody for more than two days. He also said that he was willing to help the CBI in investigating the matter.
"I will lose my job if I am in custody for more than two days. I am willing to take leave and join investigations. Please don't send me to police custody," Srivastava pleaded.
The CBI also conducted raids at the residence of Gurinder Singh Bhatia in Indore after leads from Srivastava. Bhatia is the owner of Indore-based company, Bhatia International which was allegedly bribing Srivastava. The company supplies coal and coal products to industries.
The CBI arrested Srivastava and his wife for accepting an illegal gratification of three gold bricks, each weighing 1 kg, of 24 carat gold. His wife was accepting the bribe from Anita Bajaj. The Bajajs were reportedly brokering a deal between Srivastava and Bhatia International.
Chandni accompanied by Anita, had just deposited the three gold bricks in a bank locker of the Bank of Maharashtra in New Delhi when she was arrested.
The bank locker was in the name of Anita but was being operated by Chandni "as benami".
A search of the locker revealed seven more gold bricks of 1 kg each, golden ornaments weighing 188 grams and Rs 9.5 lakh in cash. A search of Chandni led to the recovery of Rs 5 lakh from her handbag and the key of another locker in the name of Anita.
(With additional information from PTI)
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