An enforcement officer of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Department is held red handed by Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) today on taking a bribe of Rs.5000 in return of issuing a No Objection Certificate for 20 laborers working in a city based township. The alleged actual amount demanded was Rs.20,000.

Prem Kumar Sharma, the enforcement officer was detained by ACB at Balaji Temple near Meera Girls College when he was taking the bribe money from the labor contractor Karit Bhai who approached the ACB a few days back when Sharma illicitly demanded money to do the job.

According to ACB officials, the applicant Karit Bhai informed the anti corruption officials about Sharma, who had initially asked for a bribe of Rs. 20,000 rupees to issue NOC for 20 laborers who worked at a township and had made their Provident Fund accounts.

After negotiation the amount was dropped to 10,000 of which, 5000 was already paid by Karit Bhai in April 2012 and the remaining 5000 was to be paid today.

A team under the direction of ACB’s Additional Superintendent, Rajendra Prasad Goyal raided the temple’s compound and arrested Sharma with the money.

Rajendra Singh Jain (C.I) with Himmat Singh (Head Constable) including constables Akhtar Khan, Jitendra Sandhya, Munir Khan, Hemant, Ramavtar, Kailash Vyas, Dinesh Meena and Sonu (lady constable) of ACB conducted the operation.

Prem Kumar Sharma who originally belongs to Jaipur is staying in Udaipur since 2011 at Chitrakut Nagar. After joining service in 1976 at a clerical position, he is presently working as an Enforcement Officer at the Department of Provident Fund.

According to applicant Karit Bhai, the NOC of 20 laborers who made their PF accounts as per the terms of the township owner, had finished their job and wanted to close their PF accounts.