Corruption is all pervasive – AICTE Secretary arrested by CBI
The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested the Member Secretary, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and a middleman for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. five lakhs from the complainant.
The CBI has registered a case on the basis of complaint of an owner of Engineering College in Andhra Pradesh. A Middleman had asked him for a bribe of Rs. 20 lakhs on behalf of Member Secretary of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for inspection & approval of his college and had agreed to accept Rs. Five lakhs as the first instalment.
Based on this complaint, a trap was laid in the early morning of 16.07.2009. During the trap proceedings the middleman and Member Secretary, AICTE, Delhi were arrested while demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs. Five lakhs as the first instalment.
Searches have been conducted at the office premises of the Member Secretary, AICTE, New Delhi & his residence at Hyderabad and at the residence of the Middleman at Ongole, Andhra Pradesh. A cash of Rs. Nine lakhs have been recovered from the Delhi residence of Member Secretary, AICTE. Incriminating documents relating to bank accounts and properties recovered during searches are being scrutinized for further investigation.
The CBI has also registered a case against Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Advisor, AICTE, Dy. Director, AICTE and Regional Officer, AICTE, New Delhi.
The AICTE is the Apex Body for recognition of Engineering and Technical Colleges and its Chairman and Member Secretary are reputed professors – and now we know that they are also prone to corruption.
Wherever there is discretion, there is scope for corruption. And the scope is never wasted!