CBI arrests DRM of Waltair Railway Division for taking Rs 25 lakh bribe

Prasad, a 1991-batch serviceman of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering posted successful Visakhapatnam arsenic the divisional railway manager of Waltair Division, was allegedly taking the bribe from Sanil Rathod, proprietor of Mumbai-based D N Marketing, successful speech for reducing the punishment for under-performance successful contracts awarded by the East Coast Railways and the clearance of bills worthy Rs 3.17 crore.

The contracts were executed by DN Marketing and Pune-based HRK Solutions Pvt Ltd, which was controlled by 1 Anand Bhagat.

The CBI said it has besides arrested Rathod and Bhagat.

Following the arrests, the CBI conducted searches astatine 11 places successful Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Pune, Vadodara and Kolkata.

The hunt astatine Prasad’s residence successful Mumbai continued connected Sunday arsenic 3 almirahs were locked and the keys were not available.

“During ongoing searches, CBI has truthful acold recovered a currency of Rs 87.6 lakh (approximately) on with jewellery worthy astir Rs 72 lakh, spot documents, locker keys etc,” a CBI spokesperson said successful a statement.

Several incriminating documents, including investments made for a level astatine Kalyan, a locker cardinal and slope balances of Prasad, were found, the bureau said.

The bribe was allegedly paid arsenic “a reward” for reducing the punishment imposed for under-performance successful a declaration awarded by the East Coast Railways which was being executed by the companies owned by Rathod and Bhagat, the bureau said.

“It was besides alleged that bills amounting to Rs 3.17 crore raised by a backstage institution were pending with the East Coast Railway, Visakhapatnam. However, due to the fact that of delays successful execution of the contract, the said institution faced imposition of hefty penalty,” the CBI spokesperson said successful the statement.

Rathod and Bhagat allegedly approached Prasad, who demanded a bribe of Rs 25 lakh to get the punishment magnitude reduced.

“It was besides alleged that aft the involution of the accused DRM successful the matter, a reduced punishment was imposed and the measure of the backstage institution was cleared. Pursuant to clearance of bill, said accused proprietor (Rathod) of Mumbai-based backstage steadfast arranged to wage the agreed bribe of Rs 25 lakh to accused DRM during his sojourn to Mumbai connected November 16,” the spokesperson said.

The CBI laid a trap and caught the DRM and the proprietor of the Mumbai-based backstage steadfast during the speech of undue vantage of Rs 25 lakh, helium said.