Bhubaneswar: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Divisional Railway Manager (Waltair Division), Visakhapatnam, Saurabh Prasad, and two businessmen in an alleged Rs. 25 lakh bribery case.
The accused senior railway officer belongs to the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (1991 batch). The other two accused are proprietors of private firms in Mumbai and Pune.
According to a CBI release, the trio have been arrested and a case has been registered against them on allegations of criminal conspiracy and indulging in corrupt practices. “It was also alleged that bills amounting to Rs 3.17 crore raised by a private company were pending with the ECoR, Visakhapatnam. However, because of delays in execution of the contract awarded, hefty penalty was imposed on the company. The two accused proprietors of Mumbai & Pune-based private firms allegedly approached the DRM, who demanded bribe of Rs 25 lakh to get the penalty amount reduced. Following his intervention, a reduced penalty was imposed and bill of private company was cleared,” it said.
Following which, the proprietor of Mumbai-based private firm arranged to pay the agreed bribe of Rs 25 lakh during DRM’s visit to Mumbai on November 16. The CBI laid a trap and apprehended the DRM while accepting Rs 25 lakh from the proprietor, S Rathod. The agency also arrested A Bhagat, who is the proprietor of a Pune- based firm, for his alleged involvement in the case.
CBI recovers Rs 87.6L in cash & Rs 72L jewellery
Subsequent searches led to recovery of Indian and foreign currencies worth Rs 87.6 lakh, jewellery worth Rs 72 lakh, several incriminating documents, including investments made in a flat at Kalyan, Thane, a locker keys and bank balances of the accused public servant, according to the agency.