CBI arrests RPO for accepting bribe

Madurai, Mar 3 (UNI) Sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested an official of the Regional Passport Office (RPO) on bribery charges, here this evening.

According to CBI sources, the official Mohammed Sharief (52), attached to the Madurai RPO demanded a bribe of Rs 2,000 from an engineer A Shahul Hameed, hailing from Ilayankudi in Sivaganga for expediting the issuance of passport.

Shahul Hameed had applied for a new passport under Tatkal scheme through online, last week. When he approached the authorities for remitting the fees on Friday last, he was told that the application was not filled in a proper manner and was advised to give a fresh application.

Mohammed Sharief demanded the bribe amount for expediting the process of getting a new passport.

Annoyed over this, Shahul Hameed complained the matter to the CBI sleuths at Chennai. A special team under CBI, Chennai, laying a trap, caught the RPO red handed while accepting the bribe at his office, this evening.

Later, Mohammed Sharief was produced before the CBI court, here.

The Judge Karthikeyan remanded him in judicial custody till March 14.

Mohammed Sharief was recently transferred to Madurai from Tiruchirapalli.

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