The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested an Assistant Garrison Engineer serving with the Military Engineering Services (MES) in Manali, Himachal Pradesh, on charges of demanding and accepting a bribe to clear bills for a private contracting firm. The engineer was caught red-handed while accepting Rs 53,000 from the complainant, a supervisor working with the firm.
Complaint and Trap
The case was registered after the supervisor filed a complaint alleging that the engineer had demanded a bribe of Rs 93,000 to process and clear the firm's pending bills. According to the complainant, he had already paid Rs 40,000 to the accused at his office on July 3. The accused then instructed him to return on Saturday with the remaining amount.
Acting on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap. During the operation, the engineer was caught accepting Rs 53,000 from the complainant, leading to his immediate arrest.
Recovery of Cash
Following the arrest, the CBI conducted a search of the accused's residence. The agency recovered the earlier payment of Rs 40,000, which the complainant had paid on July 3, from the engineer's home. Additionally, the CBI seized Rs 10 lakh in cash from the residence. The source of this large sum is under investigation.
Legal Proceedings
CBI officials confirmed that the accused will be produced before a court on Sunday. Further investigation into the case is ongoing, including inquiries into whether the engineer was involved in other similar corrupt practices.
The arrest highlights the CBI's continued efforts to combat corruption among public servants, especially those in engineering and procurement roles where bribery for clearing bills is a common issue.
