You are working in the Pension Department as an investigating officer. A newly-posted branch manager of a bank brings the following facts to your notice: (i) For the last two years, a retired government employee, Mr. Ashok Kumar, has been transferring about 30% of his monthly pension by cheque every month to Mr. Prem Chopra. (ii) It is learnt that Mrs. Chopra, wife of Prem Chopra, is a senior officer in your pension office. (iii) You suspect that this money may be an illicit gratification so that Mrs. Chopra keeps clearing Mr. Kumar’s pension files without objection. You visit Mr. Ashok Kumar’s house. He tells you that he has no close relatives and that Prem Chopra and his wife Deepa take good care of him. His only son, posted as an IAS officer in Kota (Rajasthan), rarely visits. Mr. Kumar claims that the payments to Prem Chopra are purely out of gratitude and that it is a private family matter. Identify the ethical issues involved. What options are available to you? Which option will you choose and why? Discuss in detail.