Bribery case: 2 NHAI officials among 5 arrested by CBI

A case was registered against Accounts Officer, Junior Accounts Officer, both posted at Regional Office, National Highway Authority of India, Dispur, Guwahati and others ,including a private company based at Gurugram and its three employees, other unknown persons..

The case relates to the allegations of extending favours to the said company by the public servants for processing and clearance of bills, release of Bank Guarantees in lieu of illegal gratifications.

It was further alleged that the said company had executed a contract of road widening in Meghalaya in the year 2018 for which discharge certificate was to be issued by NHAI after completion of 04 years of mandatory maintenance on 31.03.2022.

It was also alleged that the public servants and others had favoured the said private company in processing and clearance of final bills and getting bank guarantees of the private company lying with NHAI released as well as discharge certificate issued by NHAI, for which bribe amount was allegedly paid to the public servants.

CBI laid a trap and caught both the public servants for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs. 4 lakh from an employee of the said private company on its behalf, who delivered the bribe in connivance with other employees.

The employees of said private company were also caught.

Searches were conducted around 15 places including Guwahati, Bengaluru, Gurugram, Shillong, Patna at the premises of accused which led to recovery of incriminating materials. Cash of Rs. 2.33 crore (approx.) was recovered from the premises of Executive Director of said private company.

The CBI has produced four arrested persons before the Competent Court at Guwahati and the court and sent them for eight days remand to CBI.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)