CBI registers case against Personal Secretary of ex-Ministers

NEW DELHI: CBI has registered a case against a Personal Secretary to the then Union Ministers for allegedly defrauding 14 individuals of Rs 16 lakh by promising them jobs in Railways.

CBI has alleged that Ravindranath Pandey while working as personal secretary to Subbirami Reddy, former Minister, and G Venkataswamy, former MP and Central Minister, had told one A Narsimhulu that he will arrange TTE jobs in Railways for him and 13 others through Ministers' and Board Chairman quota.

Pandey, now working as Section Officer P and A, RITES, Gurgaon, allegedly demanded Rs five lakh from each of the candidates to influence higher officials in the Railways, CBI has alleged in the FIR.

It had alleged that Pandey demanded Rs one lakh as advance from 14 candidates and remaining four lakh in balance after getting appointment in the Railways.

The FIR alleged that Rs 16 lakh was paid to Pandey through bank deposits in Vishakhapatnam and Hyderabad.

After receiving the money, Pandey allegedly kept assuring the candidates that they would get appointment letters but no such letter was ever issued.

Based on the complaint, Chief Vigilance Officer RITES filed a complaint with the CBI which registered the case.

The agency has registered a case of cheating, and provisions of Prevention of Corruption Case against Pandey.