TV
In a significant crackdown on corruption, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday nabbed an official of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a company representative in Berhampur .
According to reliable sources, the EPFO officer was caught in the act while demanding and accepting the bribe in exchange for providing a digital signature—a key requirement for processing official documentation for companies under the EPFO framework.
The officer had allegedly invited the representative of a private company to a hotel located in the Lanjipalli area of Berhampur. It was during this meeting, held under the pretext of completing official work, that the officer accepted the bribe money. Unbeknownst to him, the CBI had laid a trap following a formal complaint filed by the company.
As soon as the money exchanged hands, CBI officials moved in and apprehended the officer on the spot. The operation is part of the agency’s wider efforts to crack down on corrupt practices within the central government offices.
CBI officials have detained the EPFO official and stated that further investigation is underway. The accused will be examined whether more people are involved in the bribery nexus, sources said.
This development has sparked discussions within official circles about the need for greater vigilance and transparency in public service systems like EPFO, which directly impact the financial welfare of countless employees across the country.
