PANJIM: The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Goa branch arrested a Provident Fund officer for allegedly demanding and accepting bribe from a contractor providing manpower to companies.
The CBI sleuths’ raid in the office of Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner Rabindra Nath Roy at Patto-Panjim on Monday was following a complaint lodged by proprietor of M/s Shri Sai Services, Surla-Sankhali Sameer Mahale.
Details with Herald reveal that Roy had demanded an amount of Rs 5,000 or an air-fare ticket from Goa to Kolkata to settle the matter of show-cause notice issued to the complainant.
The complainant informed the CBI that his firm, which functioned from the old address at Bicholim, was shifted to Sankhali in 2006 with the change in address intimated to the EPFO office. However, the new address of the firm was not changed in the records of the EPFO office that continued to send communication to the old address.
“I would get letters/communications very late. Hence, I have once again intimated my change of firm’s address to the EPFO office on December 27. As per procedures and guidelines of the EPFO scheme, I have to remit the Provident Fund of each employee on or before 15th of every month through challan in the office. If any delay in PF payment, then EPFO office will charge damages along with interest from me as employer. I used to remit the Provident Fund for each employee through online challan. I received a demand notice/summons asking to pay Rs 17,050 towards damages with interest for causing delay in the PF payment from January 23, 2016 to October 16, 2018. In this regard, I was paying the damages charges on different occasions from February 2, 2018 to December 6, 2018,” the complainant said adding that he visited the EPFO office to inform about the complete payment done.
Despite full payment, Mahale alleged that he received a show cause notice to the old address directing him to appear on December 17. However, he came across the notice only on December 22 and two days later, the firm’s proprietor visited the Patto office explaining why he was delayed. Roy then informed him that he would conduct the proceedings as per the law.
“He (Roy) told me that the KYC norms in respect of my employees are not furnished and he cannot just leave me like that and I have to sponsor air fare from Goa to Kolkata. I told him that he does not travel by flights after which he checked the air tickets online and asked me to pay Rs 5,000 cash before December 29 to stop the legal proceedings against me,” he said informing the CBI that he also video recorded the incident. With CBI in receipt of the complaint, a trap was laid and the PF officer was caught red-handed.
The evidences gathered during the raid on the New Year eve will now be sent for forensic as a part of the investigation. The CBI sleuths will also produce the alleged accused before the court seeking remand for questioning. His residence will also be searched, the officer said further.
