New Delhi: The CBI Monday registered a case of corruption against one of its inspectors for allegedly threatening and extorting Rs 4.6 crore from a Gujarat-based businessman in 2018, ThePrint has learnt.
According to CBI, inspector Sunil Nair, currently with the Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) in Shillong, allegedly cooked up a case against businessman Shailesh Bhat during his posting with the ACB in Gandhinagar in 2018.
Nair allegedly told Bhat that he had strong evidence of the businessman extorting Bitcoins from another influential trader. According to the CBI, Nair then threatened to report Bhat’s “illegal activities” to the Enforcement Directorate and the income tax department if he did not pay a Rs 10-crore bribe.
Nair also allegedly told Bhat that there was a CBI inquiry against him, which too could be “settled” for the amount.
“The deal was then finalised at Rs 5 crore and Bhat paid Rs 4.6 crore to Nair,” a source in the CBI said. “It is only later that Bhat realised that there was no such case against him and that he was fooled by the inspector.”
A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and criminal conspiracy has been registered against the inspector and his associates.
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Cop used CBI landline to put pressure on businessman
According to the CBI, Nair along with one Kirit Madhubhai Paladiya allegedly zeroed in on Bhat.
The FIR says Nair first called Bhat to the CBI office in Gandhinagar on 5 February 2018 and threatened to get him raided by the ED and the I-T department for allegedly possessing black money. “Nair allegedly demanded Rs 10 crore from Bhat to settle the matter and later agreed for Rs 5 crore,” the FIR says.
Nair allegedly often called Bhat from the landline in the CBI office in Gandhinagar and would “summon him” for interrogation, asking him to either pay up or join the probe.
According to the FIR, Nair called Bhat from the CBI landline on 7 February 2018 and directed the businessman to be present at the agency’s Gandhinagar office the next day.
“Bhatt along with his business associates namely Jignesh Moradiya, Kirit Vala, and his advocate Dharmesh Patel attended CBI office and Nair threatened them with serious consequences for extorting bitcoins from Dhawal Mawani,” the FIR says.
Nair again allegedly called Bhat the next day for “further questioning”.
“Bhatt again met Nair at the CBI office where he reiterated his demand for Rs 5 crore,” the FIR reads. “He again made a call from landline of Gandhinagar and pressurised Bhat to attend the CBI office again on the next day.”
According to a CBI source, Bhat got scared and decided to pay up. “Bhat then arranged Rs 4 crore and got it delivered to Nair through Paladiya,” the source said.
On 9 February 2018, Nair again called Bhat and allegedly demanded the balance amount, of which Bhat paid Rs 60 lakh.
‘Undue and illegal pecuniary benefits’
“Nair obtained undue and illegal pecuniary benefits from one Shailesh Bhat by abusing his official position as CBI inspector,” the FIR reads.
According to the CBI, no complaint or criminal case pertaining to Bitcoin was assigned to Sunil Nair during the said period.
“Neither Bhat was wanted as an accused or witness or otherwise in any case or complaint being looked into by the CBI ACB Gandhinagar,” the FIR says.
“Thus Sunil Nair indulged in illegal acts with dishonest intentions of getting undue pecuniary benefits by unlawful means,” it adds.
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