CBI Arrests DRM of East Coast Railway Division for Taking Rs 25 Lakh Bribe

New Delhi: CBI has arrested a divisional railway manager of East Coast Railway for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from owner of a private company, officials said on Sunday.

CBI Arrests DRM of East Coast Railway 

y said Saurabh Pras was arrested in Mumbai on Saturday.

Pras, a 1991-batch officer of Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering posted in Visakhapatnam as divisional railway manager of Waltair Division, was allegedly taking bribe from Sanil Rathod, proprietor of Mumbai-based D N Marketing, in exchange for reducing penalty for under-performance in contracts awarded by East Coast Railways and clearance of bills worth Rs 3.17 crore.

contracts were executed by DN Marketing and Pune-based HRK Solutions Pvt Ltd, which was controlled by one Anand Bhagat.

CBI said it has also arrested Rathod and Bhagat.

Following arrests, CBI conducted searches at 11 places in Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Pune, Vodara and Kolkata.

search at Pras's residence in Mumbai continued on Sunday as three almirahs were locked and keys were not available.

"During ongoing searches, CBI has so far recovered a cash of Rs 87.6 lakh (approximately) along with jewellery worth about Rs 72 lakh, property documents, locker keys etc," a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.

Several incriminating documents, including investments me for a flat at Kalyan, a locker key and bank balances of Pras, were found, agency said.

bribe was allegedly paid as "a reward" for reducing penalty imposed for under-performance in a contract awarded by East Coast Railways which was being executed by companies owned by Rathod and Bhagat, agency said.

"It was also alleged that bills amounting to Rs 3.17 crore raised by a private company were pending with East Coast Railway, Visakhapatnam. However, because of delays in execution of contract, said company faced imposition of hefty penalty," CBI spokesperson said in statement.

Rathod and Bhagat allegedly approached Pras, who demanded a bribe of Rs 25 lakh to get penalty amount reduced.

"It was also alleged that after intervention of accused DRM in matter, a reduced penalty was imposed and bill of private company was cleared. Pursuant to clearance of bill, said accused proprietor (Rathod) of Mumbai-based private firm arranged to pay agreed bribe of Rs 25 lakh to accused DRM during his visit to Mumbai on November 16," spokesperson said.

CBI laid a trap and caught DRM and proprietor of Mumbai-based private firm during exchange of undue vantage of Rs 25 lakh, he said.

With PTI Inputs