CBI Arrests Assistant Registrar of Companies (AROC) in Pune for Rs. 3 Lakh Bribe from Mumbai Company Director

The Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI ) has arrested the Assistant Registrar of Companies (AROC) and Inspector in Pune for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 3 lakh from the Director of a Mumbai-based private company.

The arrest was made during a trap operation following a complaint by the ex-Director of the company.

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The case was registered against the AROC after the complainant alleged that the officer demanded a bribe in connection with an inquiry initiated by the ROC, Pune, against the company.

The officer had issued an order under Section 206(4) of the Companies Act, 2013, and followed it with a summons requiring the company's auditors, directors, and ex-directors to appear before him. During a meeting, the officer allegedly demanded a bribe in exchange for showing leniency in the investigation.

Initially, the officer demanded Rs. 30 lakh, which was later negotiated down to Rs. 5 lakh. The company was coerced into paying Rs. 3 lakh as a part payment, with the remaining Rs. 2 lakh to be paid before the issuance of an order. However, the accused later increased his demand to Rs. 6 lakh and insisted on receiving another Rs. 3 lakh.

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CBI officials set up a trap and caught the officer red-handed while accepting the bribe from the company’s director at his office in Pune. He was subsequently arrested and presented before the Special CBI Court in Mumbai, where he was remanded to police custody until October 19, 2024. The investigation is ongoing.

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