Home ministry official arrested on graft charge sent to jail

New Delhi, May 24 : A CBI court on Tuesday sent suspended home ministry official Anand Joshi in judicial custody till June 6 in a case of corruption.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge Vinod Kumar remanded Joshi in 14 days’ judicial custody after the probe agency told the court that the accused was not required for further custodial interrogation.

Joshi, who was under-secretary with the union home ministry until he was suspended, was presented before the court after the expiry of his earlier four days’ police custody.

He was arrested by the CBI on May 15 here on the charge of “obtaining illegal gratification” from various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) after issuing notices to them under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).

The CBI is reported to have found files relating to activist Teesta Setalvad’s NGO Sabrang Trust from his possession.  Joshi had gone “missing” from his residence in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh after summons were issued by the CBI. 

Earlier, home ministry sources said Joshi, recently posted in the Foreigners Division, had access to files related to the FCRA and was under the scanner for several months. Joshi has denied the charge of receiving bribes from NGOs.