Northern Railway Officials Apprehended in Lucknow Bribery Sting Operation
In a significant anti-corruption operation, officials from the Northern Railway in Lucknow were ensnared in a meticulously planned trap on Tuesday. The action followed a formal written complaint regarding alleged bribery demands for processing a family pension case.
Complaint Details and Initial Allegations
The case originated from a written complaint dated January 22, which targeted Akash Tyagi, an account assistant stationed at the office of the senior DFM (Divisional Finance Manager) of Northern Railway in Lucknow. The complaint accused Tyagi of demanding a substantial bribe of Rs 3.5 lakh to expedite and clear the family pension of the complainant's maternal aunt. This formal grievance set the stage for a coordinated response from anti-corruption authorities.
Execution of the Trap and Arrests
Acting on the complaint, a specialized anti-corruption team orchestrated a trap on Tuesday. During the operation, investigators caught two railway officials red-handed in the act of demanding and accepting part of the bribe amount. The individuals apprehended were Akash Tyagi and Akshay Srivastava, an assistant DFM posted in the same office. They were captured while accepting Rs 70,000, which represented a portion of the total bribe demanded. Official sources confirmed that both officials were taken into custody immediately at the scene.
Post-Arrest Procedures and Legal Framework
Following the arrests, authorities engaged in extensive procedural formalities to solidify the case. These included:
- Detailed documentation of the trap proceedings to ensure legal validity.
- Preparation of recovery memos to record the seized evidence.
- Ongoing investigation to uncover further details and potential accomplices.
A case under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act is expected to be registered against the accused, highlighting the serious legal consequences they face. This incident underscores the ongoing efforts to combat corruption within public institutions, particularly in sensitive matters like pension disbursements that affect citizens' welfare.
