The CBI arrested the Managing Director of Bengaluru-based Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Limited (KAPL), Anurag Danayak, while he was allegedly taking a bribe of ₹5 lakh from a Bhopal-based firm, officials said on July 16.

KAPL is a public sector undertaking.

The agency received information on July 15 about a possible bribe payment. Danayak was allegedly caught in Noida red-handed taking the bribe from a company that is a service agent of KAPL, according to a CBI spokesperson.

"The accused Managing Director had demanded around ₹15 lakh from a Bhopal-based firm, which is an authorised service agent of KAPL and engaged in the supply of medicines to government institutions in the State of Madhya Pradesh,” the spokesperson said.

The bribe was in return for approving the Service Agent Agreement of the firm as well as an application for assigning additional institutions to the firm, which were pending for renewal for the current financial year, and as a cut on the commission received by the firm from the sale of medicines in the current year, the CBI alleged.

"The accused Managing Director was caught red-handed in Noida while accepting an undue advantage of ₹5 lakh as part payment of the demanded bribe amount of ₹15 Lakh," the spokesperson said.

The agency searched the residential and office premises of the accused in Bengaluru, Noida and Jabalpur.

"Around ₹75 lakh in cash, and foreign currency worth ₹4 lakh were seized from his Noida residence and office chamber in Bengaluru, besides 697 grams of gold jewellery and coins worth approximately ₹86 lakh, and a property document of the residential flat of the accused," according to the CBI statement.