New Delhi, April 17
In a sequel to the nationwide raids last month to check adulteration of petroleum products, the CBI today arrested Regional Director (North), Anti-Adulteration Cell of the Ministry of Petroleum, Sandeep Garg on charges of corruption and possession of assets worth Rs 3 crore disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Mr Garg, a 1991 Haryana cadre IAS officer, was questioned throughout the day today before a formal case under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against him, a CBI press note said here.

The CBI has also arrested a Panipat-based businessman, Atul Jindal, for allegedly indulging in corrupt practices by acting as a middleman between the accused officer and other businessmen.

The CBI press note claimed that many incriminating documents were seized during simultaneous raids conducted in 10 places (including the residence of the said officer), including three places in Muzzaffarnagar (UP), two places in Panipat (Haryana) and one place in Ballabhgarh (Haryana) and four places in Delhi.

Acting on a tip-off, the CBI learnt that the accused officer had been habitually taking illegal gratification, as a result of which he had amassed huge illegal wealth. Jindal was likely to hand over Rs 16 lakh to Garg at his residence at about 1 p.m. on April 16, the press note said, adding that “this money was earlier learnt to have been given by the officer to the businessman for getting it changed to different denominations of currency notes.”

CBI sleuths searched the Moti Bagh residence of the officer immediately after the said businessman had handed over the amount to the officer, which resulted in the seizure of Rs 12 lakh.

Subsequently, the CBI said searches conducted so far reveal that Garg had possessed assets worth Rs 3.05 crore, including Rs 1.7 crore in cash found from a single bank locker and Rs 12 lakh recovered from his residence.

“A fixed deposit of Rs 20 lakh was found in a bank in Panipat. Public Provident Fund accounts with balances to the tune of Rs 6.53 lakh were found in the names of the officer and his family members, Rs 2.67 lakh (approx) was found as balance in different bank accounts of the officer and his wife.