Arrested ED Officer Ankit Tiwari Intimidated Govt Official Through WhatsApp Calls And Text Messages; Demanded Rs 51 Lakh Bribe: DVAC Statement

Ankit Tiwari, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer who was arrested for taking a bribe of Rs 20 lakh from a government servant on 1 December has been remanded to 15 days judicial custody by a Dindigul court.

After Tiwari's arrest, the DVAC carried out searches at his premises and the ED's office in Madurai.

In a statement released late last night, the DVAC gave details about the arrest.

"Ankit Tiwari is serving as an Enforcement Officer in the Madurai Enforcement Department office of the Union Government. On 29.10.2023, he contacted a Government employee from Dindigul and mentioned about a case registered against him in Dindigul Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Department, which was already disposed off.

"Further, Ankit Tiwari informed the employee that instructions had been received from the Prime Minister's Office to conduct an enquiry by the Enforcement Department in this case and asked the government employee to appear before the Enforcement Directorate office at Madurai on 30.10.2023.

"Accordingly, when the Government employee went to Madurai, Ankit Tiwari got into the Government employee's car and negotiated that he should pay Rs.3 crore to avert legal action in the case.

"Later, he said that he had spoken to his superiors and as per their directions, he agreed to collect Rs.51 lakh as bribe. On 01.11.2023, the said employee had given him Rs.20 lakhs as first instalment of bribe.

"Later, he intimidated the employee on several occasions through WhatsApp calls and text messages that he should pay the full amount of Rs. 51 lakh, otherwise he would face dire consequences.

"Having suspicion over his activities, the Government Employee lodged a complaint at the Dindigul district Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Unit on 30.11.2023. Today (01.12.2023) morning, the sleuths of V&AC caught Ankit Tiwari after he had received Rs.20 lakhs as bribe from the complainant.

"Subsequently, he was arrested at 10.30hrs under Prevention of Corruption Act. It is pertinent to mention that the slueths have seized several incriminating documents regarding his misconduct. Investigation is being done to elucidate whether he had blackmailed/threatened any other officials adopting this modus-operandi and collected crores of money in the name of Enforcement Directorate.

"Enquiry will also be conducted to ascertain the involvement of other ED officials in the plot if any. V&AC sleuths are conducting searches at the residence of Ankit Tiwari and his Enforcement Directorate office at Madurai. Further searches will be conducted at the places associated with Ankit Tiwari."