The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a senior railway officer, Saurabh Prasad, who serves as the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of the Waltair Division under East Coast Railways, in connection with a ₹25 lakh bribery case. The arrest was made in a trap operation following specific intelligence reports, which revealed the officer’s involvement in accepting a bribe for reducing a penalty imposed on a private company for delayed contract execution.
The bribery case centers around a private firm that had pending bills worth ₹317 crore with the East Coast Railway due to delays in completing a contract. The company had been penalized for its underperformance in executing the project. To evade the hefty penalty, the company allegedly approached Prasad for assistance. In return for his help in reducing the penalty, Prasad reportedly demanded a bribe of ₹25 lakh.
According to CBI sources, the bribe was paid through two businessmen — S. Rathod, a Mumbai-based firm proprietor, and A. Bhagat, a Pune-based businessman. The CBI’s investigation indicated that the two businessmen, acting on behalf of the private company, arranged the bribe payment to Prasad in exchange for his intervention to lower the penalty amount. The bribe was allegedly handed over to Prasad during a visit to Mumbai on Saturday, where the CBI laid a successful trap.
In addition to the arrests of the accused officers, CBI searches at the properties of the involved parties led to the recovery of substantial assets. The agency seized Indian and foreign currencies totaling ₹87.6 lakh, along with ₹72 lakh worth of jewelry. Furthermore, investigators discovered incriminating documents, including information about investments in a flat in Kalyan, Thane, locker keys, and the bank balances of the arrested public servant.
The CBI has registered a case against Saurabh Prasad, Rathod, Bhagat, and others involved in the criminal conspiracy, charging them with corruption and bribery. The agency’s investigation is ongoing, with further efforts being made to uncover more details about the scope of the alleged corruption.
This incident highlights concerns over corruption within India’s railway sector, with authorities taking stringent measures to ensure accountability. The CBI’s swift action underscores its commitment to tackling corrupt practices at all levels of government and public services.
Sources By Agencies
