ACB trap in HPCL: 2 including deputy manager arrested; more officials under scanner

Jaipur: A day after Rajasthan anti-corruption bureau (ACB) arrested HPCL deputy manager Rajesh Singh in Jaipur and his middleman Kishan Vijay, a probe has been launched against some other senior HPCL officials. Rajesh Singh was arrested for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 1 lakh through the middleman for the allotment of a petrol pump. Searches were carried out at the houses belonging to two HPCL sales officers in Ajmer and Sawai Madhopur.

The trap was organized by ACB’s Ajmer team on Sunday. Rajesh Singh is currently is the Kota area manager. Kishan Vijay operates a petrol pump in Tonk.

A businessman approached the ACB and registered a complaint against Rajesh Singh. In his complaint, he stated that Rajesh was demanding Rs 2 lakh bribe through his middleman Kishan Vijay. The complaint was verified and when found genuine, a trap was laid, senior ACB officials said. Kishan Vijay was caught taking Rs 1 lakh on behalf of Rajesh Singh, they added. Both were arrested. The ACB teams carried out searches at properties belonging to Rajesh Singh and his middleman in Kota, Jaipur, Ajmer and Tonk.

The agency also sealed a house belonging to an HPCL sales manager currently deputed in Ajmer. A cash amount of Rs 2.82 lakh was seized from the house of another sales manager deputed in Sawai Madhopur.

ACB has lodged an FIR under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Further investigation is going on.