Nagpur, April 13 (Bureau) A joint team of Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI)and Vigilance Department of Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation(EPFO) conducted searches at two EPFO offices in Nagpur city of Maharashtra, sources said here on Wednesday. The searches were conducted after receiving some complaints that some EPFO officials were giving favours to private firms. The Anti-Corruption Branch of CBI Nagpur and the EPFO’s vigilance team from Mumbai started the searches on Tuesday morning in the EPFO offices located at Tukdoji square and Umred road here and continued till late night, sources said. Sources further said a large number of files and PF entries of Provident Fund(PF)were checked by the joint teams during the searches.
Besides, several documents have been seized, said sources . Pertinently filing of PF is compulsory for the company with more than 20 employees. The search team on Tuesday found that some EPFO officials had issued notices to schools and private companies, having more than 20 employees but no further action was taken in such cases. Having received the notices, the owners of such firms allegedly settled down the cases amicably. It is being suspected that the firm owners managed to convince the EPFO officials that their firms were operating with below than 20 employees. The joint team are investigating the reasons for closing of such files by the EPFO staff without proper inquiry , said sources. The CBI officials also questioned the EPFO employees about the reason for closing various files. Some EPFO officials are also likely to be called for further enquiry, sources said. The searches were conducted under the guidance of CBI SP Salim Khan.