Kapil Sibal

Aug. 31: A resident of Ranchi, who had applied for the post of deputy registrar of the Central University of Jharkhand but was rejected, allegedly tried to bribe human resource development minister Kapil Sibal by sending him a cheque for Rs 1 lakh.

The matter came to light when the ministry’s chief vigilance officer, Amit Khare, approached Delhi police commissioner B.K. Gupta on May 24 for registration of a case against Om Prakash.

After verifying the cheque (No. 361296) dated August 26 and drawn on Canara Bank, the police commissioner registered a case on August 24 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Khare told reporters in Delhi the cheque, along with a letter, was purportedly sent by Prakash, a resident of Dhurwa. “It appears from the letter that the cheque has been used as an inducement to get a favour.… This matter has been viewed very seriously in the ministry,” he said.

Sources said a police team would be sent to Ranchi to find Prakash and question him.

B.N. Singh, the officer in charge of Dhurwa police station, said “no police team” had reached the city from Delhi to question anyone in connection with an attempt to bribe the Union minister.

Varsity registrar Shyam Narayan said the man had applied for the post in March 2009. “He was interviewed, but not selected.”

Narayan said the varsity had two posts for deputy registrar, of which one had already been filled up. “The other post has been advertised recently,” he said.