Dy, SP (Admin) NIA, HQ, New Delhi Sudhanshu Shekhar Shukla lodged a complaint with Central Bureau of Investigation for further investigation as NIA enquiry has revealed the possibility of threatening other people/witnesses and extorting a huge amount of money from them
TFM Report
NIA SP Sh Vishal Garg, who was suspended for bribery in Manipur, had extorted Rs 60 lakh from three persons between May and August 2022, when he was posted in NIA Imphal, by threatening them for falsely implicating them in terror funding cases.
Dy, SP (Admin) NIA, HQ, New Delhi Sudhanshu Shekhar Shukla lodged a complaint with Central Bureau of Investigation for further investigation as NIA enquiry has revealed the possibility of threatening other people/witnesses and extorting a huge amount of money from them.
The Dy SP(Admin) NIA also named NIA inspector Imphal Rajib Khan as accused in his complaint to K Siva Subramani, IPS, SP CBI. AC-II, New Delhi. Following the complaint, the CBI registered an FIR, a copy of which is with The Frontier Manipur, against Sh Vishal Garg, the then SP NIA, Imphal, and Md Rajib Khan, Inspector NIA Imphal, on April 26, 2023.
READ FIR COPY HERE: NIA NIA FIR FIR
They were booked under IPC Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 388 (extortion) and sections 7 and 7a of the Prevention of Corruption Act. They were suspected of Criminal Conspiracy, Obtaining undue advantage, Extortion by threat of accusation of an offence, taking undue advantage to influence public servants by corrupt or illegal means or by exercise of personal influence (Other).
NIA internal enquiry findings
In his complaint, Shukla stated that Information was received from sources that Sh Vishal Garg, the then SP, NIA Branch Office, Imphal, along with Rajib Khan, Inspector, NIA Imphal, was collecting huge amounts of money from residents of the State of Manipur through cut-outs, by threatening them for falsely implicating in NIA Cases After receiving the said information, an internal enquiry was conducted against Sh. Vishal Garg, and Md Rajib Khan.
Shukla said enquiry has revealed that NIA had registered a case vide RC No 08/22/NIA/DLI dated 09.03.2022 with the allegation that the active cadres of terrorist organizations, including but not limited to Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), United Liberation Front (UNLF) and People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), all proscribed under UAPA are raising funds in the State of Manipur, in furtherance of their terror activities. The said case was assigned to Sh Tushar Bishat, Inspector/Chief Investigating Officer, NIA Imphal for investigation,
The enquiry further revealed that Sh Vishal Garg, being SP, NIA Imphal Branch was the Head of the Branch and the First Supervisory Officer in NIA RC No. 08/22/NIA/DLI. On the directions of Sh Vashal Garg, Md. Rajib Khan was assisting in the investigation of the said case, he added.
Shukla further said the enquiry has revealed a clear modus operandi of the accused officers wherein certain businessmen/professionals were called for examination, mostly without legal notices. They were threatened with false implications in the NIA case, in the presence of Sh Vishal Garg,. Thereafter, Md Rajib Khan, Inspector would offer help to them in lieu of money. The amount to be paid would be negotiated and payment, in cash, would be received by Md Rajib Khan and thereafter, the matter would be closed.
The enquiry has revealed that using the above modus operandi, Md. Rajib Khan had collected Rs 10 lakh (cash) from Sh Inaocha Takhellambam @Naoba S/o Late Thambalngou, Rs 20 lakh (cash) from Sh N Momon Singh S/o Late Moirangningthou and Rs 30 lakh (cash) from Sh Laishram Hemanta Singh S/o Laishram Modhumangol Singh, all residents of Imphal, during the period from May to August 2022, at the instance of Sh Vishal Garg, he added.
As enquiry has also revealed the possibility of threatening other people/witnesses and extorting huge amounts of money from them, this aspect needs to be also investigated, said the Dy SP(Admin) NIA in his complaint to the CBI.
Urging the CBI to take up needful action, Sukla said the internal enquiry has revealed the indulgence of Sh. Vishal Garg and Md Rajib Khan in corruption and criminal practices.
The CBI SP directed Inspector (AC-II Delhi) Ravi Shankar Kumar to take over the investigation.
Vishal Garg was shifted from Manipur just three months ago in January this year. His successor took over the charge on January 28, 2023. This is the second time that Garg was placed under suspension on charges of corruption. In 2019, Garg, along with two other NIA officials, was placed under suspension for allegedly demanding Rs 2 crore from a Delhi-based businessman for not naming him in a terrorism funding case involving Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.