New Delhi, Nov 27: In a case involving bribery, the Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a complaint against two senior members of the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage (PPQS). Within the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare’s Plant Protection Division, the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine, and Storage is an organisation under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare of the Indian government. Sanjay Arya, Joint Director (Plant Pathology), Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage (PPQS), Faridabad, and Padam Singh, the Plant Protection Officer (PPO) at the time, Plant Quarantine, Visakhapatnam, have been identified as the accused parties named in the FIR.According to the formal complaint filed in this case, Sanjay Arya looked into the complaint that Rajesh Acharya had made against Padam Singh, PPO, Plant Quarantine, Visakhapatnam. Rajesh Acharya claimed in the complaint that Padam Singh was pressuring exporters for payment and threatening to cease operations if his demands were not met.Sanjay Arya visited Visakhapatnam in May 2022 as part of the investigation and examined the complainant. According to what we’ve been told, complainant Rajesh Acharya reiterated that Padam Singh has been extorting money from exporters and hasn’t accepted their requests for timely clearance of goods, which has caused delays in stock loading on vessels and resulted in significant losses for them. Additionally, the complaint stated that in May and June of 2022, the complainant sent emails to Sanjay Arya complaining that Padam Singh was refusing to approve their applications and was requesting a Certificate of Appreciation from him.Sanjay Arya suggested closing the complaint after the investigation was finished because there was no evidence to support the allegations. Consequently, it said, the matter has been closed. It went on, “Sources also revealed that Dr. Sanjay Arya accepted Rs. 2 lakh as an undue advantage from Padam Singh in two instances through one Satish Singh in order to give a favourable report in respect of the said enquiry.” An inquiry into the situation is in progress. We’re waiting for more information.
