New Delhi, Nov 18 (FN Agency) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday arrested a top official of East Coast Railway’s Waltair Division in Visakhapatnam while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs. 25 lakh from an accused who is proprietor of a Mumbai-based private firm. The central probe agency said in a statement that during ongoing searches it has so far recovered cash of Rs 87.6 lakh along with jewellery worth about Rs 72 lakh and property documents. “The said bribe was allegedly paid as a reward for reducing the penalty imposed on an accused (private company) for under-performance in a contract awarded by East Coast Railways, which was being executed by the said two proprietors of Mumbai and Pune-based private firms” said CBI.
CBI registered a case against the accused including the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of East Coast Railways, two proprietors of two different private firms and others on allegations of criminal conspiracy and indulging in corrupt practices.” It was also alleged that bills amounting to Rs. 3.17 Crores raised by a private company were pending with the East Coast Railway, Visakhapatnam” said the statement. However, because of delays in execution of the contract awarded, the said company faced the imposition of a hefty penalty.To evade paying such a heavy penalty, two accused proprietors of Mumbai & Pune-based private firms allegedly approached the accused DRM who demanded a bribe of Rs. 25 lakh to get the penalty amount reduced. “Searches were conducted at the premises of the accused which led to recovery Rs. 87.60 lakh apart from recovery of jewellery valued at about Rs. 72 lacs and several incriminating documents” said the CBI.