CBI today arrested Home Ministry official R. S. Sharma, the owner of a private firm and his wife on graft charges in the purchase of bulletproof jackets for Central Police Forces.
1984-batch Indian Railway and Engineering Services officer Radhey Shayam Sharma, owner of a Private Firm Anjani Technoclass Ltd R. K. Gupta and his wife Laveena Gupta were produced before a city court here which remanded them in two days of police custody.
CBI has registered a case under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, against the official for allegedly granting “undue favours” in the procurement of bulletproof jackets to certain private firms.
Mr. Sharma, a director level officer at the Home Ministry, had allegedly developed “nexus” with some private firms involved in the supply of 59,000 bulletproof jackets for paramilitary forces.
The MHA had floated a tender for procurement of 59,000 bulletproof jackets for Central Para Military Forces in July, last year which ran into controversies after allegations of manipulation and discriminatory trial of samples of private firms participating in tender were raised.
The controversy led to re-evaluation of tender and re-trial of sample bulletproof jackets.
Mr. Sharma allegedly leaked confidential information about tender and trial process to a competing firm.
“An officer of MHA developed nexus with certain private firms supplying security equipment such as armoured panels, bulletproof jackets, helmets shields etc for granting undue favours to such firms,” Harsh Bahl, official spokesperson of the agency, had said.
He established an “unauthorised” contact with the private firm and have been demanding and accepting illegal gratification in lieu of services and favours shown, the official said.
