Bhubaneswar: In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had summoned senior IAS officer of Odisha Bishnupada Sethi in connection with its probe into the alleged bribery involving Rs 10 lakh.
As per information, the central investigating agency had issued notice to Sethi. who is the Principal Secretary in SSEPD Department. The notice was issued from the CBI’s headquarters in New Delhi on December 10.
“It is learnt that you are acquainted with some important and relevant facts and circumstances of the instant CBI case, which are required to be ascertained from you,” said the CBI letter issued to Sethi.
Sethi was not immediately available for comment.
As per the letter, Sethi was required to appear at the CBI office in Bhubaneswar on the December 11 at 10 am. The summons followed the arrest of three persons on December 6 in Bhubaneswar over seizure of Rs 10 lakh.
Those held are Chanchal Kumar Mukherjee, Group General Manager of CPSU Bridge and Roof Construction Co (India) Ltd, contractor Santosh Maharana and super-class contractor Debdatta Mahapatra. The three are currently in remand for further interrogation by the CBI.
The investigation has also led to the suspected involvement of Sethi’s drivers, who have also been called by the CBI to as part of the investigation. Allegations suggest the drivers may have facilitated the transaction with Mukherjee.
Sources said the Odisha government in ST&SC Development, M&BCW Department, recently assigned projects for up-gradation of Ashram Schools to High Schools and High Schools to Higher Secondary Schools and others to the PSUs.
Sethi, who is currently posted as the Principal Secretary to the government, had reportedly assigned the projects to Chanchal Mukherjee’s company. Reports suggest the Rs 10 lakh seized from a vehicle outside a hotel was reportedly a bribe for the project.
