Bhubaneswar: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Sub-Area Manager of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited’s (MCL) Rampur coal mines, Asit Kumar, on bribery charges.
He had allegedly demanded Rs 30,000 bribe to revoke the suspension order against the ward boy of Rampur dispensary, Ramesh Soren, and regularise his job.
According to sources, the ward boy had approached contractor Babu Ram alias Bitu about a month ago, seeking his help in this regard. When Babu Ram discussed the matter with the MCL official, he demanded a Rs 30,000 bribe. After much negotiation, he agreed to accept Rs 20,000 to revoke his suspension and receive the remaining amount later.
At around 6 pm on Wednesday, Kumar was caught red-handed by CBI sleuths while accepting the amount fromBabu Ram at his Brajrajnagar office in Jharsuguda district.
This comes almost a month after the central agency apprehended MCL’s chief manager (mining) for Basundhara area in Sundargarh district for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 for facilitating the release of a compensation fund of Rs 11.37 lakh in connection with acquisition of land.