By IANS,
New Delhi : An official of the central environment and forests ministry was arrested while receiving a bribe of Rs.7 lakh for giving clearance to a mining project, the CBI said Thursday.
The accused, identified as Neeraj Kumar, 45, a deputy director in the ministry, was arrested from south Delhi’s Mehrauli area Wednesday while taking the bribe from an agent named Chandan, a resident of Bhubaneswar, said a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer.
The agent was also arrested.
“On a tip-off, Neeraj Kumar was arrested red-handed while taking the bribe in a car. During his interrogation and searches at his four different flats in Haryana – two in Gurgaon, one in Rohtak and one in Sonipat, Rs. 1 crore in cash was recovered,” said the officer.
According to the official, Neeraj Kumar used to take bribes for arranging environmental clearances for mining projects.