Rs 10 Lakh Bribery Case In Odisha: CBI Team Returns To Delhi; Where Will Bishnupada Sethi Appear?

Bhubaneswar: A team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from New Delhi which was reportedly camping in Bhubaneswar as part of the probe into alleged Rs 10 lakh bribery case has returned to the national capital.

The team was stated to have come from the CBI headquarters for the interrogation of IAS officer of Odisha Bishnupada Sethi in connection with Rs 10 lakh bribe allegedly sought from a senior official of the state-owned Bridge and Roof Company (India) Limited.

As per sources, the team of the central probe agency went back to New Delhi on Thursday after completion of investigation.

The CBI on November 7 arrested three persons – group general manager of Bridge and Roof Company (India) Limited Chanchal Kumar Mukherjee, contractor Santosh Moharana and middleman Debadutta Mohapatra. The three were granted conditional bail by a special court on Wednesday.

Notably, the CBI had issued summons to Bishnupada Sethi asking him to appear before the agency’s office in Bhubaneswar in connection with the probe in the bribery case. However, Sethi reportedly failed to appear before the CBI despite being issued multiple notices.

Following the return of the CBI team to Delhi, questions are now being raised as to where senior IAS officer Sethi will appear.

After being embroiled in controversy over bribery scandal, Sethi was on Tuesday shifted from the three keys positions he was assigned and placed as officer-on-special duty (OSD) in the General Administration and Public Grievance department.

While the IAS officer has been under intense media scrutiny, with Opposition political parties seeking action against him, the Mohan Charan Majhi government acted swiftly by effecting a mini reshuffle in the senior level.

Notably, the CBI had arrested contractor Santosh Moharana and middleman Debadutta Mohapatra along with Mukherjee on December 7, after seizure of Rs 10 lakh from a car outside a star hotel in Bhubaneswar. This arrest was part of a trap operation conducted by the central probe agency.

According to the CBI, the accused were involved in corrupt and illegal activities related to awarding work orders and clearing bills in exchange for bribes. Specifically, it’s alleged that Moharana met Mukherjee at his Bhubaneswar office on December 6, where the CPSU official demanded Rs 10 lakh and promised to adjust the amount in future billings.