The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested two officials from the Central Government Health Scheme in Meerut for allegedly accepting a bribe to facilitate a staff transfer, officials confirmed on Friday.
Meerut
The accused have been identified as Natasha Verma, Additional Director at the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) in Meerut, and her private assistant, Sunny. According to investigators, the case was registered on April 30 following a complaint alleging that a bribe of Rs 80,000 was being demanded to facilitate the transfer of a CGHS employee from Moradabad to Meerut.
Acting on the complaint, the CBI conducted a trap operation after verifying the allegations. During the operation, both accused allegedly agreed to accept a reduced bribe amount of Rs 50,000 from the complainant. Officials said the private assistant was caught red-handed while accepting the money on behalf of the Additional Director.
Following the successful trap, both Natasha Verma and her assistant were taken into custody. Investigators stated that the bribe was sought in exchange for processing the staff transfer, suggesting misuse of official authority within the department.
The arrests were made as part of standard anti-corruption procedures, which include verification of complaints and carefully monitored trap operations to ensure credible evidence. The agency indicated that such actions are part of ongoing efforts to curb corruption in government institutions.
Officials further said that the accused will be produced before a competent court, where the CBI is likely to seek custody for further interrogation. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities examining whether other officials were involved in similar practices.
The case has once again highlighted concerns about corruption within administrative systems and the need for strict enforcement measures to ensure transparency and accountability in public services.