Enforcement Directorate officer Ankit Tiwari demanded Rs 51 lakh from Dindigul doctor and threatened of action otherwise, a statement from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption said. Tension prevailed outside the ED office in Madurai on Friday as DVAC sleuths entered the premises for searches and central forces were deployed for security.
Tamil Nadu anti-corruption sleuths on Friday arrested red-handed Tiwari, an officer with the Madurai office of central agency ED, while taking bribe on Friday. According to the state anti-corruption agency, Ankit Tiwari is serving as an Enforcement Officer in the Madurai Enforcement Department office. On October 29, Tiwari contacted Suresh Babu, a government doctor in Dindigul and demanded a bribe of Rs 3 Crore to dispose off a corruption case registered against him. The doctor had a case registered against him by DVAC earlier and it was disposed off.
Tiwari reportedly threatened the government doctor that ED had received directions from the Prime Minister’s Office to initiate case against him and he was asked to reach the Madurai office on October 30. “When the Government employee went to Madurai, Ankit Tiwari got into the Government employee's car and negotiated that he should pay Rs.3 crore to avert legal action in the case. Later, he said that he had spoken to his superiors and as per their directions, he agreed to collect Rs.51 lakh as bribe,” DVAC said.
“On November 1, the said employee had given Tiwari Rs.20 lakh as the first instalment of bribe. Later, he intimidated the employee on several occasions through WhatsApp calls and text messages that he should pay the full amount of Rs. 51 lakh, otherwise, he would face dire consequences. Having suspicion over his activities, the Government Employee lodged a complaint with the Dindigul district Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Unit on November 30. On December 1 morning, the sleuths of DVAC caught Ankit Tiwari after he had received Rs.20 lakh as bribe from the complainant,” it said. Tiwari has been arrested under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Anti-corruption sleuths said they conducted searches at Tiwari’s office and residence and “seized several incriminating documents regarding his misconduct”. “Investigation is being done to elucidate whether he had blackmailed /threatened any other officials adopting this modus-operandi and collected crores of money in the name of Enforcement Directorate. Enquiry will also be conducted to ascertain the involvement of other ED officials in the plot if any,” DVAC said.
Tension prevailed outside the ED office in Madurai while DVAC officials reached there to conduct searches as part of the case. DVAC sleuths were not initially allowed inside the premises and they were allowed to proceed with searches after ED officers in Madurai took concurrence from Chennai. During the searches, Central police personnel were deployed outside office premises. Searches are continuing at the office.
