MUMBAI: In a stunning revelation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has found that Sachin Vaze took Rs 30 lakhs from the BARC officials to protect themselves from harassment at the hands of Mumbai police, reported by The Times of India.
Vaze used to tell BARC executives to wait outside his office for hours, even late in the evening, and then telling them to come the next day. Vaze also created an inkling that he beats up suspects during questioning and asked BARC to pay a Rs 30 lakh bribe if they want to avoid torture.” the TOI reported, citing a source.
Through sources, the TOI reported that Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) officials had admitted to the ED about making such a payment. The nodal TRP measuring body transferred the bribe to the bank account of a dummy company while maintaining that the amount was spent on construction work in its record books.
After the bribe was credited to a dummy account, it was then transferred to four additional shell companies. The extortion money was then credited to the account of a Hawala operator.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recorded the statement of BARC employee and its senior executives, who reportedly confirmed the same. However, the ED is yet to question the accused person of Mumbai crime branch.