The Mumbai Unit of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently booked an enforcement officer of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and a PF consultant for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs60,000 from a Nashik-based businessman. He claimed that he would not have paid the money had he known it was illegal.
According to the sources, a written complaint was received from the proprietor of a company, which deals with hardware and electric items and hydraulic maintenance work. He said that he had been receiving notices for non-payment of PF from the EPFO office, Nashik, since 2017.
The businessman said that in August 2023, he contacted his PF consultant B S Mangalkar, who advised him to meet N V Bakare, the enforcement officer at the EPFO office, Nashik. Accordingly, he met the latter and explained that he has not been dealing with any labourers since 2014 and hence there is no question of paying PF. However, Bakare told him that he has to pay the pending dues with penalty, while asking him to meet Mangalkar for further action, sources said. The PF consultant allegedly told the businessman to pay Rs60,000, which the latter paid, they added.
In December 2023, the complainant came to know through news that the CBI and the Anti-Corruption Bureau had raided Mangalkar's office for taking bribes on behalf of another EPFO officer. At this point, the businessman realised that the PF consultant had taken Rs60,000 to grease Bakare palms, said the official. Subsequently, he lodged a complaint and a case was finally registered this February.
