The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Delhi government has lodged an FIR against an IAS officer Amarnath Talwade under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The case has been filed on the basis of an audio clip where Talwade allegedly pressurised his subordinate to collect more money from retail liquor vendors and demanded a larger share from the pie.
Amarnath Talwade is a 2009 batch IAS officer of AGMUT cadre promoted from state civil services. He is currently posted as rural development and panchayatiraj secretary in Arunachal Pradesh government.
What is the case?
The case dates back to 2015-16, when Talwade served as senior general manager at DSCSC Ltd. from Jan 12, 2015 to April 29, 2016. He was booked under section 13 (2) of POC act.
ACB said that the directorate of vigilance had received a complaint on March 21, 2023, along with a pen drive containing an audio clip of a conversation allegedly between an IAS officer and an inspector regarding the sharing of illegal proceeds.
“During the preliminary inquiry, it was revealed that the alleged conversation involved Talwade, the then senior general manager of Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd, and his subordinate officer, PK Shahi,” an official said.
ACB chief Madhur Verma said the alleged conversation centred around the senior exerting pressure on his subordinate to collect more money from retail liquor vendors and demanded 30% of the total collection. “In the purported audio clip, the senior officer also admits to receiving Rs 5 lakh from Shahi.
The ACB, after receiving the audio clip, sent it to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Rohini for examination.
The ACB acted only after getting the confirmation that the audio clip is undoctored and authentic. Lt Governor of Delhi VK Saxena has already ordered to lodge FIR and recommended ministry of home affairs for a thorough probe in this graft case which has links with higher ups.
Talwade has earlier denied any truth in this case.
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