Andhra: Six railway officials held in bribery case in Tirupati, Mumbai

Tirupati: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested six persons including two Senior Section Engineers (SSEs), an Assistant Divisional Electrical Engineer (ADEE), and a middleman in two separate cases of bribery in South Central Railway, Tirupathi, and Central Railway, Mumbai.

The first case was registered against SSE (Electrical), South Central Railway, Tirupathi on allegations of demanding a bribe to clear a pending bill. It was alleged that the complainant (Director of a private company) was allotted a Railway Tender for the installation of 750 Volt power supply for maintenance of HOG coaches in washing/sick lines of maintenance Depot/Shed at Tirupathi amounting to Rs.2.56 crore. It is stated that two bills of the complainant were cleared amounting to Rs.1.99 lakh.

It was further alleged that during the processing and payment of bills, the SSE (Electrical), SC Railway, Tirupathi, and others harassed the complainant for payment of illegal gratification. It was also alleged that since the demand was not fulfilled, the harassment kept on increasing. To complete the pending works and to place the final bill, an extension was sought by the complainant's company. It was further alleged that the Complainant, thereafter, met the accused SSE who instructed the complainant to execute the trenching work & Horizontal Drilling Bore at Chandragiri Railway Station, which allegedly was not related to the contract of the Complainant. It was also alleged that when Complainant visited the office of SSE and requested to process the pending bill the SSE demanded Rs.2.75 lakh for processing the same. On negotiation, the accused SSE allegedly asked to pay Rs.40,000 for processing the bill.

CBI laid a trap and the SSE was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs.40,000. During further trap proceedings, the role of ADEE, South Central Railway, Tirupathi, emerged and he was also caught while accepting Rs.20,000 bribe.

The accused were arrested and produced before the Special Judge for CBI Cases, Kurnool on February 17 and were remanded to judicial custody till March 1.

In the second case, CBI registered a case against Senior Section Engineer (SEE), Sanpada, Central Railway, Mumbai on allegations of demanding a bribe from the complainant for passing his bill and release of CRN.

The accused allegedly demanded a 3% commission as a bribe amount from the complainant through Paytm to be transferred to a conduit/middleman. It was stated that the complainant was running a firm in Delhi and dealing in the supply of materials to Central Railways. It was also alleged that during August 2023, the complainant’s firm received an order for the supply of material from Central Railway, Sampada Store Depot against the bid for the supply of 3000 kg of lightweight body filler and the firm supplied the materials in October, 2023. The bill of the same allegedly remained pending with said SSE, Central Railway, Mumbai.

CBI laid a trap and caught the conduit/middleman, who received payment on behalf of the accused SSE through Paytm. The accused SSE was also apprehended.

Searches are being carried out at the premises of the accused in both cases.

The investigation is continuing in both cases.