CBI charges officials with ‘selling’ patent

The businessman, GR Kaliaperumal, who paid the bribe in the first instance, was also booked in the case. 

Kaliaperumal had submitted an application for grant of patent rights for his invention, ‘a composition, ornamental plaster mould and a method for preparing the said mould thereon’ in the Office of Patent and Designs in 2010. However, the patent was not granted till 2015. Kaliaperumal approached the present deputy controller and branch head, Dr SP Subramanian, who agreed to issue the patent but demanded a bribe of Rs 3 lakh. Kaliaperumal agreed to the deal and paid up the amount as asked. On 28 April 2015, his application was cleared and the patent was granted. 

Subramanian then asked Kaliaperumal to issue legal notices to four firms that were importing and using the same technology for which patent was granted to him. When the four firms filed post grant opposition against Kaliaperumal’s claim, Subramanian, along with former deputy controller TV Madhusoodhan, approached the businessman seeking Rs 10 lakh for deciding the case in his favour. 

As Kaliaperumal failed to pay the additional amount, the deputy controller revoked the earlier order that granted him the patent. 

Charging Subramanian, Madhusoodhan and Kaliaperumal as accused one to three, CBI noted in the FIR that the incident prima facia reveals commission of cognisable offence of criminal conspiracy, cheating, receiving illegal gratification and abetting offences.