Home / Crime and Justice / Middleman Demands Rs 4 Lakh Bribe Over Art Auction
Middleman Demands Rs 4 Lakh Bribe Over Art Auction
7 May
Summary
- Middleman sought bribe for facilitating art auction file clearance.
- Art collector paid Rs 18.2 lakh for Raja Ravi Varma prints.
- CBI registered a case against the alleged middleman.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has initiated a case against an alleged middleman in Mumbai. This action follows a demand for a Rs 4 lakh bribe from a businessman and fine art collector.
The collector had purchased Raja Ravi Varma prints, oleography, and lithostones through an auction held by the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT-II) in Mumbai. He successfully won the bid on April 6 for Rs 18.2 lakh and completed the payment process.
Subsequently, the middleman, identified as Vijay Kumar, reportedly approached the collector. Kumar allegedly demanded the Rs 4 lakh bribe, claiming it was on behalf of officials from the DRT and a bank. The payment was purportedly to facilitate the clearance of the auction file and the eventual release of the purchased artworks.
