‘Had no knowledge it was bribe money’: CBI drops businessman as accused in case against NCLT official

Singh was arrested in May for allegedly accepting Rs 3 lakh as a bribe from a person whose case was pending before the NCLT. The complainant, who had approached the CBI, had said that he was involved in a dispute with his brothers, regarding the ownership of a hotel. He had claimed that the bribe was demanded to help settle the case in his favour.

In its chargesheet, the CBI has said that the complainant had come in contact with Singh in connection with the case.

Singh had contacted then allegedly informed him that one of his staff members wanted to stay at the complainant’s hotel in Lonavla. The staffer then stayed at the hotel with her family for three days in Lonavla. The bill payment of Rs 30,000 was kept pending. When the complainant asked Singh about it subsequently, he allegedly got irritated and told the complainant that his case is pending before him in NCLT. He also said that he could help him in the case and allegedly sought the bribe, the CBI chargesheet said.

The bribe money was collected by Ahir, who told the CBI that it was on the instructions of Singh.

“That, during investigation, no active role of Karsan Ganesh Ahir (private person) in demand and acceptance of bribe was found. Karsan Ganesh Ahir was not having the knowledge about the bribe money or for what purpose the money has been collected by him,” the CBI said, adding that hence he was not named as an accused in the chargesheet.

On November 13, the special court issued process against Singh while taking cognisance of the chargesheet.

“On perusal of the chargesheet it prima-facie appears that the accused Charan Pratap Singh, who was working as Deputy Registrar at NCLT, Mumbai demanded undue advantage of Rs.6,50,000 from the complainant for helping him to get a favourable order from the NCLT, Mumbai and in furtherance of the demand accepted Rs.3,00,000 through a private person Karasan Ahir and hence, issue process u/s.7(A) of P.C. Act against the accused Charan Pratap Singh,” the court said.

In June, the court had granted bail to Singh.

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