CBI books plant quarantine officials on graft charges

Two top plant quarantine officials are among several persons booked by CBI on Tuesday on charge of accepting bribes from custom house agents of Tuticorin for issuing certificates for export and import consignments.

CBI also said it seized Rs 7.10 lakh allegedly received from various agents. Searches at Chennai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Madurai and Tuticorin were being conducted in this regard, and further investigation was on. The top officials booked are Regional Plant Quarantine Station, Chennai, Joint Director P Manickam, Joint Director (Plant Protection), Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine & Storage, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi, Satyanarayana.