The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Plant Protection Officer, Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage Department, Ministry of Agriculture (Govt of India), Visakhapatnam and three private persons including a Regional Manager of a private company based at Visakhapatnam in a bribery case.

A case was registered against the Plant Protection Officer, Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage Department, Ministry of Agriculture (Govt of India), Visakhapatnam and a Regional Manager of a private company based at Visakhapatnam. It was alleged that the Plant Protection Officer, Visakhapatnam, Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage Department, Ministry of Agriculture (Govt of India) was demanding & collecting huge amounts of bribes from the CHAs, Fumigators and Shipping Agents for issuing Phytosanitary Certificates for exporting the goods and Consignment Release Orders for imported consignments.

It was further alleged that the public servant demanded illegal gratification from Regional Manager of a private company based at Visakhapatnam for clearing pending application and issuing favourable certificate to Customs for release of import/export consignments of agricultural commodities.

CBI apprehended the Plant Protection Officer, Visakhapatnam and the said Regional Manager of private company and recovered the bribe amount of Rs. 6000/-.

Searches were conducted at the premises of accused & others including his associates at Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Roorkee (Uttarakhand). A cash of Rs. 1,29,63,450/- (approx.) was recovered from the premises of public servant and Rs. 56,86,000/- (approx.) allegedly belonging to the public servant was recovered from the premises of others. Certain incriminating documents were also recovered.

All the arrested accused will be produced today before the Court of Principal Special Judge for CBI Cases, Visakhapatnam.

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