Shimla, Feb 7,
An FIR under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered on February 7, 2025, at the Police Station Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SV & ACB) Kullu against Bhavita Tandon, the Assistant Commissioner of Food Safety and Regulation in Kullu. The case stems from a complaint lodged by Padam Chand, a resident of Manali, who alleged that Tandon had demanded a bribe of Rs. 2 lakh to resolve an issue regarding a notice issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2011, stated a media communique by the bureau..
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The notice, dated November 28, 2024, had been issued to Padam Chand’s establishment, Hotel Snow Peak Retreat in Manali, for keeping misbranded papad and unsafe cooking oil. The complainant approached the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau and filed a formal complaint against Tandon’s demand for a bribe, it stated.
Following the complaint, the Vigilance team, led by Dy. SP Ajay Kumar, laid a trap. The complainant, acting on Tandon’s instructions, handed over a bribe of Rs. 1,10,000 to Keshav Ram, a peon working under the accused officer. Upon recovery of the bribe money from Keshav Ram’s possession, a further investigation ensued. The team also detained the two other accused individuals: Pankaj, a Food Safety Officer, and Bhavita Tandon, both of whom were present during the bribery transaction, they informed.
All three accused have been taken into police custody, and their interrogation is underway. More updates will be shared soon on the progress of the case, by the Superintendent of Police, SV & ACB CR Mandi (H.P.).
