A shocking bribery scandal rocked Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited when CBI officers caught sales officer Prateek Tagle accepting Rs 1 lakh from a desperate retail outlet owner in Chandrapur. The red-handed arrest on January 19 marks a significant victory in the battle against official misconduct.
The saga began when Tagle insisted on a Rs 2 lakh payoff to process the handover of a petrol pump held under the complainant’s wife’s proprietorship. Reluctant to pay the full amount immediately, the complainant agreed to an initial Rs 1 lakh installment, a decision that sealed the officer’s fate.
Following a detailed complaint filed on January 16, CBI laid a trap with precision. The moment Tagle pocketed the money, the team pounced, securing evidence and custody. This operation highlights the agency’s proactive stance on whistleblower tips.
Investigators are now peeling back layers to check for repeat offenses by Tagle and any network of corrupt officials within HPCL. The probe extends to evaluating handover protocols across retail outlets to prevent future vulnerabilities.
In an era where fuel distribution is vital to the economy, such breaches erode public trust. The CBI’s firm hand reassures stakeholders that accountability will prevail, with court proceedings underway to ensure justice.