The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on May 29 arrested two persons including the Deputy Registrar of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai bench for demanding and accepting Rs 3 lakhs as a bribe.

As per a press release issued by the CBI, a city-based hotelier had filed a complaint with the CBI against Deputy Registrar - Charan Pratap Singh, and two others including a private person, on May 14. In his complaint the hotelier alleged that the Deputy Registrar had demanded Rs 3.50 lakhs from him in lieu of a "favourable" order.

According to the complainant, he operated a hotel in Mumbai however, due to some disputes over the title of the hotel a case was filed in NCLT Mumbai on November 2, 2020 and the same has been pending since then.

On May 11, the Deputy Registrar, allegedly asked the complainant to pay Rs 3.50 lakhs to him and in return he will use his 'contacts' in the NCLT (Mumbai Bench) and get an order in his favour. However, the accused later agreed to accept Rs 3 lakhs.

Acting on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap and caught a private person (acting on behalf of the Deputy Registrar) red-handed while accepting the bribe of Rs 3 lakhs, which comprised of Rs 1 lakh real currency and rest were dummy currency.

The CBI in its press release stated that during a further trap, the accused Deputy Registrar was also arrested for his role in the bribery.

"Searches are being conducted by CBI at the premises of accused in Mumbai and Lucknow. The investigation is continuing," the central agency said in the release.