New Delhi: In a significant development, Sandeep Singh, an assistant director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and officer from the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday night. Singh, who was posted at the ED headquarters in Delhi, was caught red-handed while extorting Rs. 20 lakh from a Mumbai-based jeweler, Vipul Harish Thakkar. The arrest took place in the Lajpat Nagar area around 11:30 pm.The arrest and immediate actionsThe Enforcement Directorate, known for probing financial crimes, responded swiftly to the arrest. In a statement, the ED announced that a case has been registered against Singh under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Additionally, the agency has moved to suspend Singh and repatriate him to his parent department. The ED, in collaboration with the CBI, also conducted joint raids at Singhs office on Thursday to gather further evidence.Details of the conspiracyAccording to the CBIs First Information Report (FIR), the extortion was part of a broader conspiracy in which Singh, in collusion with unidentified accomplices, sought to obtain Rs. 20 lakh from Thakkar. The bribe was allegedly demanded in exchange for not arresting Thakkars son, Nihar, who was under investigation by the ED. The ED further clarified that Singh was not the investigating officer in the case but had participated in a search at Thakkars Mumbai residence. During this search, Singh misrepresented himself as the investigating officer and allegedly accepted the bribe.EDs firm stance on corruptionThe Enforcement Directorate emphasized its zero-tolerance policy towards corruption. In light of Singhs actions, the agency has taken criminal action under the PMLA. The EDs statement reiterated its commitment to maintaining integrity and accountability within the agency, highlighting that Singhs arrest is part of broader efforts to clamp down on corruption.Corruption in the EDSinghs arrest is not an isolated incident. The ED has faced several corruption scandals in the past year. Notably, in August last year, ED officers Pawan Khatri and Nitesh Kohar were arrested by the CBI for allegedly accepting a Rs. 5 crore bribe related to the Delhi excise policy investigation. Other instances include the arrest of ED officer Ankit Tiwari by Tamil Nadus Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption for accepting a Rs. 20 lakh bribe and the arrest of Naval Kishore Meena by Rajasthans Anti-Corruption Bureau for a Rs. 15 lakh bribe.
