‘That was illegal gratification’

He said all four and some ‘‘unknown persons’’ had been booked under Section 7 (public servant taking bribe other than legal renumeration), Section 12 (abetment of the offence under Section 7), Section 13 (2) read with Section 13 (1)(D) (criminal misconduct by a public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

This was followed with raids at 17 places in Delhi, Gurgaon, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh which included the official and native homes of Judeo, residence of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, offices of Akash Channel, a local cable operator in Raipur, its employees and directors.

The CBI said it had seized several documents from the residence of Jogi and Akash Channel. Amit Jogi’s house in Delhi was also raided. The CBI spokesman said that after registration of a Preliminary Enquiry, it was found that the person identifying himself as ‘Rahul’ was introduced to Judeo as Rahul Saroggi by Shekhar Singh of Bhopal whom Judeo has known for 25 years.

Rahul, whose identity was established as Bhupendra Singh Patel, had visited Judeo’s office, residence and hotel several times since July this year.

During investigations, it was found that Patel alias Rahul was using a particular mobile phone registered in the name of Rohit Choudhury. The CBI spokesman said that Patel had obtained this SIM card from Rohit during July and August.

According to the FIR, the inquiry disclosed that Judeo and Rateria had visited Hotel Taj Mansingh on November 5 where Patel alias Rahul was present alongwith Manish whose identity is yet to be established.

The CBI spokesman said that Patel paid a bribe of Rs 9 lakh to Judeo as a motive or reward to render assistance in future with regard to matters pertaining to purported mining projects in Chhattisgarh and Orissa.

Rahul was in close contact with Arvind Vijay Mohan, who had arranged for secret video-recording of the money exchange.

Mohan was in frequent communication with a particular number registered in the name of Jogi and his son Amit, the spokesman said, quoting the FIR.

The FIR also stated that an analysis of Patel’s mobile telephone print-outs disclosed that other than Mohan, he was in touch with Raj Awasthi, Rajat Prasad and Rohit Prasad, all connected with Akash Channel.

In a statement late tonight, Rajat Prasad denied the charges.

Patel was also found to have another mobile telephone number which was registered in the name of Akash Channel.

On the forensic examination of the videotape, the spokesman said that the report had not come so far but the case was converted into a regular case after the agency prima facie corroborated several facts in the case.