CBI finds documents linking some babus to hawala transactions

CBI has come across on documents pertaining to purchase of property by senior bureaucrats using hawala channel during its probe in the allegedly bribery scandal involving Commissioner of Central Excise at Kolkata A M Sahay.

After Sahay was arrested last weekend by CBI for allegedly receiving a bribe of over Rs one crore through hawala channel, searches were carried out at his residence and other places during which the agency found property documents showing purchase of property by some other bureaucrats belonging to IAS and Customs department, official sources said on Monday.

The sleuths immediately informed the CBI headquarters and were directed to seize all the documents and verify them, the sources said, adding some senior bureaucrats may be questioned soon in connection with this.

Sahay, who was arrested along with six others, is at present in CBI custody till 9 April.

CBI alleged Sahay entered into a criminal conspiracy to favour R K Bhatolia and his son Prateek as their company had received adverse reference from the vigilance department of Railway design in Lucknow.

Besides the father-son duo and Sahay, CBI arrested four others – Sandeep Singh Chadha, Piyush M Seth, Udaybhan Pandey and Jaspal Singh.

CBI alleged the Commissioner attempted to obtain Rs 50 lakh in Mumbai through hawala transaction. A trap was laid and the bribe amount being paid through hawala transactions at both ends were seized by CBI.

A total amount of Rs 1,03,99,000 related to the transaction has been recovered so far. The operation was monitored closely by CBI Director Ranjit Sinha.