Maharashtra: CBI Arrests Indian Bank Panel Advocate In Kolhapur For Accepting ₹1.70 Lakh Bribe From Complainant

Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested accused Panel Advocate of Indian Bank, Kolhapur (Maharashtra) for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 1.70 lakh from the complainant, agency officials said on Wednesday.

The arrested accused has been identified as Vijay Patankar, Panel Advocate of Indian Bank, Kolhapur and resident of Ichalkaranji.

The CBI had registered a case on Tuesday, on the basis of a complaint against accused Panel Advocate of Indian Bank, Kolhapur, on allegations that accused Penal Advocate demanded bribe of Rs. 2.5 lakh from the complainant & negotiated it for Rs 1.80 lakh.

"The bribe was allegedly demanded for deferring the possession of the mortgaged property of the complainant by the Bank under SARFAESI Act which he had offered to the Bank for obtaining a loan of Rs. 5.5 crore which had become NPA subsequently. Accused further agreed and reduced the bribe to Rs 1.70 lakh," said a CBI official.

A trap was laid by CBI and the accused was caught red handed at his office while demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs 1.70 lakh from complainant.

The agency officials conducted searches at the residential and official premises of accused at Ichalkaranji which led to recovery of incriminating documents.

The accused public servant was produced before the Court of District Judge-1 at Ichalkaranji, Kolhapur (Maharashtra) on Wednesday where the agency sought his custody.