homeindia NewsCBI raids former DPIIT Secy Ramesh Abhishek to probe allegations of corporate kickbacks
CBI raids former DPIIT Secy Ramesh Abhishek to probe allegations of corporate kickbacks
Abhishek is said to be an aide of former finance minister and Congress MP P Chidambaram. The 1982-batch Bihar cadre IAS officer joined Paytm Payments Bank as an independent director after retiring from the post of DPIIT secretary in 2019.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday, February 20, conducted raids at the residence of the former DPIIT secretary Ramesh Abhishek. The raids followed the registration of a formal FIR against the former bureaucrat.
Ramesh Abhishek was the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) secretary from 2016 to 2019. He was charged with leading several campaigns like Make in India, Startup India, Ease of Doing Business, and Industrial Corridors in the country. He was also the Chairman of the commodity derivate market regulatory body, the FMC.
The CBI, in its FIR, cites a December 2023 order of the Lokpal. The order of Lokpal had directed the CBI to probe “doubtful transactions” entered into by Ramesh Abhishek and his daughter Vaneesa Abhishek. The complaint before Lokpal had alleged that he received large amounts as professional fees or consultancy fees from companies with whom he had official dealings as the DPIIT secretary or the Forward Markets Commission (FMC) Chairman.
In its December order, the Lokpal also directed an investigation into a property purchase in Delhi’s upmarket GKII. As per the complaint, the big-ticket investment was the outcome of a “doubtful” and “sudden” rise in earlier family investments in real estate or a “sudden” rise in business income within a short span of time.
The CBI has invoked sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code against the bureaucrat and his daughter.
An earlier order of February 2023 from Lokpal records how his income was pegged at ₹34 lakh as a government officer. However, the order noted that post-retirement, between the period of April 2020 and August 2021, Ramesh Abhishek reported a professional income of ₹2.7 crore. In the February 2023 order, the Lokpal observed that it cannot be a “mute spectator” to allegations of corruption and had proceeded to direct the ED to probe Ramesh Abhishek.
Abhishek, who is said to be an aide of former finance minister and Congress MP P Chidambaram, has been accused of amassing disproportionate assets. The 1982-batch Bihar cadre IAS officer joined Paytm Payments Bank as an independent director after retiring from the post of DPIIT secretary in 2019.
First Published: Feb 20, 2024 6:55 PM IST
Check out our in-depth Market Coverage, Business News & get real-time Stock Market Updates on CNBC-TV18. Also, Watch our channels CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and CNBC Bajar Live on-the-go!
Lok Sabha Election 2024: What rural Delhi wants
May 16, 2024 10:10 PM
Over 50 onion farmers detained in Nashik ahead of PM Modi's visit
May 16, 2024 11:14 AM
Why Google CEO is cautiously optimistic about the election year
May 16, 2024 9:51 AM
Mark Mobius reveals how markets will react if NDA wins 400+ Lok Sabha seats
May 15, 2024 8:09 PM