New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANS): In a major setback to Central Bureau of Investigation Superintendent D.K. Barik, charge sheeted in a graft case, one of the accused has become approver in the case, sources said on Thursday.

Bhupinder Singh, one of the accused in the case, last month moved an application before a special court seeking to become an approver in the case.

Special Judge Gurdeep Singh granted Bhupinder Singh, a buisnessman, pardon and recorded his statement as an approver in the case on August 24.

The court has ordered that Bhupinder Singh would be examined as prosecution witness during the trial of the case.

According to court sources, Bhupinder Singh told the court that he has given bribery to former ADC (aide-de-camp) to Punjab Governor Nirvikar Singh in lieu of getting relief in a seperate case pending against him.

The CBI in July charge sheeted Barik, Nirvikar Singh and Bhupinder under the charges dealing with criminal conspiracy and corruption.

It is alleged that Nirvikar Singh took the money on behalf of Barik in return for providing relief to Bhupinder Singh in another case.

Bhupinder Singh reportedly agreed to pay Rs.30 lakh to Nirvikar Singh in two equal instalments.

On Wednesday, the CBI told the court that sanction against Barik has yet not been received and the matter regarding sanction was pending with the department of personnel and training.

The CBI sought one month time for getting sanction to initiate proceedings against Barik.

The court granted time to the probe agency and fixed the matter for October 16.