CBI arrests KAPL Managing Director Anurag Danayak over Rs 5 lakh bribe

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Anurag Danayak, the Managing Director of the Bengaluru-based public sector undertaking Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Limited (KAPL), for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹5 lakh. The arrest took place in Noida, following which the agency conducted searches at Danayak's office chamber in Bengaluru and other locations.

According to a CBI spokesperson, the agency received information on July 15 about a possible bribe payment. Danayak was allegedly caught red-handed in Noida on July 16 while accepting ₹5 lakh as a part payment of a demanded ₹15 lakh bribe from a Bhopal-based firm.

The Bhopal-based company is an authorised service agent of KAPL. The private firm is engaged in the supply of medicines to government institutions in the State of Madhya Pradesh.

The CBI alleged that the bribe was demanded in return for approving the Service Agent Agreement of the firm, which was pending renewal for the current financial year. The demand also reportedly covered an application for assigning additional institutions to the firm, and a cut on the commission received by the firm from the sale of medicines in the current year.

Following the arrest, the central agency launched searches at the residential and office premises of the accused across Bengaluru, Noida, and Jabalpur.

During these search operations, the CBI seized approximately ₹75 lakh in cash and foreign currency worth ₹4 lakh from Danayak's Noida residence and his office chamber in Bengaluru.

In addition to the cash, officials recovered 697 grams of gold jewellery and coins, valued at approximately ₹86 lakh. The agency also seized a property document for the residential flat of the accused.