Bhubaneswar: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has directed IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi to appear in its Bhubaneswar office by noon on Wednesday.
According to reports, the central agency had earlier declined a request from Sethi to depose in Delhi since the investigating officer in the alleged tender fixing case, involving Chanchal Kumar Mukherjee, group general manager of central PSU Bridge and Roof Co (India) Ltd, is in Bhubaneswar.
It was speculated that he made the request to avoid public and media glare in the state capital.
Also Read: Rs 10 Lakh Bribery Case: Odisha IAS Officer To Depose Before CBI In Delhi?
The central agency arrested Mukherjee, director of a private company and a private person after an exchange of Rs 10 lakh bribe on December 7.
On December 10, the CBI summoned the IAS officer.
While it is still not clear what exactly the CBI wants to ascertain from Sethi, 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.
Sources said that Sethi’s role in certain alleged irregularities in tender process is being investigated. It is also being alleged that Mukherjee along with B K Singh, general manager of Bridge and Roof Company, met him on December 5 to discuss their Odisha-based projects.
Meanwhile, the state government has shunted the IAS officer out of three departments where he was serving as principal secretary, and assigned him an insignificant posting as OSD in the General Administration department.
Also Read: Odisha Govt Shunts Senior IAS Officer Under CBI Scanner; Manoj Sahoo Appointed Special Secy To CM
Earlier responding to the CBI summons to the IAS officer, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan had said that exemplary action would be taken against whoever is found guilty as the BJP government has zero tolerance towards corruption.
