A Joint Director of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) allegedly jumped to his death from his fourth-floor office following his arrest in a bribery case. Jawri Mal Bishnoi, 44, was arrested on March 24 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh. Following the arrest, the CBI then searched his office located on the fourth floor of the building, reported PTI.
DGFT is a government body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry responsible for implementing the country’s foreign trade policy. “
CBI carried out a search operation at Bishnoi’s office throughout the night and was about to finish it in the morning when at around 9.45 am, the accused suddenly ran towards the window and threw himself out of it,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sudhir Desai.
Bishnoi sustained serious injuries due to the fall from the fourth floor and was taken to the civil hospital where doctors declared him dead, the police official said. A case of accidental death was registered at Pradyuman Nagar police station, and further investigation is being carried out.
Bishnoi had allegedly demanded a total of Rs 9 lakh from a businessman seeking a no-objection certificate (NOC) to export food cans. The document would have allowed the businessman to retrieve his bank guarantee of Rs 50 lakh, the police told PTI.
The police reportedly said the concerned businessman had already submitted all necessary documents to the DGFT office in Rajkot for getting the clearance certificate.
The CBI officers who carried out the search at Bishnoi’s office will be questioned in connection with his death. Meanwhile, a group of people protested at the civil hospital, accusing the CBI of Bishnoi’s death. The police staff present at the hospital provided protection to the CBI officers and brought them to the police station for inquiry.
