CBI searches premises of former NCLT official in Rs 1 crore bribe demand case involving legal firm

Mumbai:The CBI searched the premises of a retired official of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in a case where a legal firm is accused of accepting a bribe from an NCLT litigant for a favourable order.

The initial demand was Rs 1.5 crore for influencing NCLT members, which was reduced to Rs 1 crore. Of this amount, Rs 20 lakh was paid into the legal firm's account at the instance of the CBI. The remaining amount was to be paid in cash.

The CBI registered a case against the proprietor of the legal firm and his employee. The role of the retired NCLT official, now working as a private consultant, is not clear.

The CBI is investigating possible connections between the accused individuals and both current and former NCLT officials.

In the current CBI case, the hearings in the litigant's case ended last year, and the tribunal reserved it for an order in Aug.

At NCLT, Mumbai, the complainant had submitted a petition against the firm. After following the legal process, a resolution plan was submitted to the NCLT bench, and after concluding the arguments, the bench reserved the order in Aug. The order is yet to be announced.

According to the CBI FIR, the legal firm's employee approached the complainant, claiming connections with NCLT members and offering a favourable decision for monetary compensation. The legal firm used the term ‘fees' as a code for the bribe during the discussion. The complainant decided to approach the CBI, complaining about the corrupt practice. The CBI verified his allegation and subsequently registered the FIR.

Investigations showed that after the legal firm employee's initial request for a 50% advance was rejected, he, along with his firm's proprietor, agreed to a 20% (Rs 20 lakh) advance. The CBI monitored their movements and recently searched their premises to collect bribe-related evidence from their mobile phones. During further examination of their mobile phones and other evidence, the CBI searched the retired NCLT official on Monday.

The CBI FIR named the proprietor of the legal firm along with his employee, along with unknown public servants and private persons, for criminal conspiracy and attempting to manipulate public cases through illegal means.

Mumbai:The CBI searched the the premises of a retired official of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in a case where a legal firm is accused of accepting a bribe from an NCLT litigant for a favourable order.

The initial demand was Rs 1.5 crore for influencing NCLT members, which was reduced to Rs 1 crore. Of this amount, Rs 20 lakh was paid into the legal firm's account at the instance of the CBI. The remaining amount was to be paid in cash.

The CBI registered a case against the proprietor of the legal firm and his employee. The role of the retired NCLT official, now working as a private consultant, is not clear.

The CBI is investigating possible connections between the accused individuals and both current and former NCLT officials.

In the current CBI case, the hearings in the litigant's case ended last year, and the tribunal reserved it for an order in Aug.

At NCLT, Mumbai, the complainant had submitted a petition against the firm. After following the legal process, a resolution plan was submitted to the NCLT bench, and after concluding the arguments, the bench reserved the order in Aug. The order is yet to be announced.

According to the CBI FIR, the legal firm's employee approached the complainant, claiming connections with NCLT members and offering a favourable decision for monetary compensation. The legal firm used the term ‘fees' as a code for the bribe during the discussion. The complainant decided to approach the CBI, complaining about the corrupt practice. The CBI verified his allegation and subsequently registered the FIR.

Investigations showed that after the legal firm employee's initial request for a 50% advance was rejected, he, along with his firm's proprietor, agreed to a 20% (Rs 20 lakh) advance. The CBI monitored their movements and recently searched their premises to collect bribe-related evidence from their mobile phones. During further examination of their mobile phones and other evidence, the CBI searched the retired NCLT official on Monday.

The CBI FIR named the proprietor of the legal firm along with his employee, along with unknown public servants and private persons, for criminal conspiracy and attempting to manipulate public cases through illegal means.

Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi wishes, messages and quotes !