Rs 10 Lakh Bribery Case: Odisha IAS Officer To Depose Before CBI In Delhi?

Bhubaneswar: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to question senior IAS Bishnupada Sethi in Delhi in connection with the alleged bribery allegation against Chanchal Kumar Mukherjee, group general manager of central PSU Bridge and Roof Co (India) Ltd.

“He initially sought time. Later, he requested to depose in Delhi. His request is under consideration,” a CBI source said.

The central agency arrested Mukherjee, director of a private company and a private person in the Rs 10 lakh bribe case on December 7.

On December 10, the CBI summoned Sethi, who is currently serving as principal secretary of state SC/ST, Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) and Odia Language, Literature and Culture department.

While it is still not clear what exactly the CBI wants to ascertain from the IAS officer, a letter dated October 19, 2024, from his office to CMD of Bridge & Roof Co, regarding assignment of projects for upgrading an Ashram school to High School & a high school to higher secondary school, has been doing the rounds since the summons were issued. The two projects are worth Rs 37 crore.

Meanwhile, the agency has also issued notices to some officers of the Works and Rural Development department for allegedly showing undue favour to the central PSU in the allotment of tenders. An IAS officer, who was earlier posted in the ST&SC development department, may also be questioned, the TOI reported, quoting the source.

On Monday, General manager of Bridge and Roof Company B K Singh, who along with Mukherjee had reportedly met Sethi on December 5 and discussed their Odisha-based projects, appeared at the CBI office here for questioning.