Espionage scam: CBI may probe 'role' of RBI official

NEW DELHI: Widening its probe into the alleged sale of confidential government documents to corporate groups, the CBI is examining the role of a senior deputy general manager of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), based in Mumbai. Sources familiar with the investigation said the CBI is probing the possible involvement of the official in passing on information to arrested chartered accountant Khemchand Gandhi.

The CBI had registered a case early this month and carried out searches at Mumbai and Delhi in the course of which they claimed to have recovered `. 60 lakh in cash from the residence and office of Gandhi, a CA-cum-consultant. During his questioning, he claimed to have accessed information from RBI on application before the foreign investment promotion board (FIPB).

RBI principal chief general manager Alpana Kilawala said CBI had not approached them so far. “ We have not received anything from CBI,“ she said.

The CBI is also investigating the frequency of Gandhi's trips to RBI and his interactions with RIL vice-president KV Mohanan who was recently questioned by CBI in connection with the documents leak case.

A CBI spokesperson refused to elaborate on the role of RBI officials. However, a senior CBI official told ET, “The agency soon plans to seek clarification from the RBI official regarding his meetings with Gandhi. The matter is under examination and we may also seek legal opinion before calling him. The role of more than one official of RBI who were in contact with Gandhi cannot be ruled out.“

Besides Gandhi, the agency has so far arrested five persons including an Under Secretary in the Department of Disinvestment and Grievances Ashok Kumar Singh, Assistant in FIPB section Ram Niwas, Section Officer in the DEA Lala Ram Sharma, and Paresh Chimanlal Buddhadeb, a partner in Chitale and Associates.