The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has initiated a major corruption case in Nagpur, targeting a public servant within the Western Coalfields Limited (WCL). The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) registered a formal case against Deepak Jaiswal, a foreman incharge at the Naigaon opencast mine, for allegedly soliciting a bribe to process mutual transfers of two employees.
The Complaint and Alleged Bribe Demand
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the case stems from a written complaint filed on January 9 by Kapil Laxman Nagrale, a senior clerk at the Neeljai deep opencast mine. The complainant accused Foreman Deepak Jaiswal of demanding a bribe of Rs 50,000 – Rs 25,000 for each employee – to facilitate the mutual transfer process.
The transfers involved two individuals: Dinesh Gedam, who works in mining at Gondegaon opencast mine and is the son of the complainant's brother-in-law, and Arvind Kudphe, an overman at Gokul opencast mine in the Umred area. Jaiswal reportedly used the complainant as an intermediary to convey his illicit demand.
Verification and Negotiation of the Bribe Amount
In a startling revelation, the CBI verified the allegations on the very day the complaint was received, January 9. During this verification process, Jaiswal allegedly confirmed his demand for money. However, he then engaged in negotiation, reportedly reducing the requested amount from Rs 25,000 per person to Rs 20,000 per person, bringing the total bribe to Rs 40,000.
His stated reason for the reduced amount was to expedite the mutual transfer procedure. This act of negotiation and confirmation during the CBI's verification operation solidified the evidence against him.
Legal Implications and Ongoing Investigation
The CBI has invoked Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) against Deepak Jaiswal. This section specifically penalises public servants for accepting or attempting to obtain any undue advantage for performing or delaying their official duties. The offence is cognisable, meaning the police can arrest without a warrant and start an investigation immediately.
The case has been entrusted to Police Inspector Kailas Magar of the CBI's ACB in Nagpur for a thorough and detailed investigation. The probe will examine all aspects of the alleged transaction and the roles of all parties involved.
This case highlights the ongoing vigilance of central agencies against corruption in public sector undertakings. It serves as a stern warning to officials who might misuse their position for personal gain, especially in large organisations like Western Coalfields Limited that are crucial to the nation's energy sector.
