The CBI arrested NHAI General Manager Ram Prit Paswan and three others for allegedly soliciting a Rs 15 lakh bribe to expedite contract processing. The investigation also implicates several NHAI officials and led to the recovery of approximately Rs 1.18 crore in cash. The case highlights serious corruption issues regarding public contracts.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) apprehended four individuals, including Ram Prit Paswan, a General Manager of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), for their involvement in a bribery scheme valued at Rs 15 lakh. This unlawful payment was allegedly requested by Paswan to facilitate the processing of bills tied to NHAI contracts.
Among the arrested individuals is Suresh Mahapatra, General Manager of Ram Kripal Singh Construction Pvt. Ltd., who was purportedly providing the bribe. Two additional employees from the company, Barun Kumar and Chetan Kumar, were also arrested in connection with the case.
The CBI’s investigation implicates several other high-ranking officials of the NHAI, including YB Singh, Chief General Manager, and has identified Ram Kripal Singh Construction Pvt. Ltd. alongside its General Manager Amar Nath Jha as defendants in the associated FIR.
The CBI stated that the accused parties engaged in a collusive effort to grant undue advantages in treating the contractor’s billing process in return for illegal compensation. Subsequent searches resulted in the recovery of approximately Rs 1.18 crore in cash.
CBI operatives executed raids across multiple locations including Patna and Varanasi, uncovering substantial cash reserves and numerous incriminating documents as well as digital evidence pertinent to the ongoing investigation, affirming their continuous scrutiny in combating corruption.
The recent arrests made by the CBI underscore the serious nature of corruption within government contracting processes, exposing a sophisticated scheme involving multiple stakeholders. The involvement of high-ranking officials from both the NHAI and the private sector indicates systemic issues in governance that require stringent oversight. The recovery of significant amounts of cash during the investigation reflects the extent of malfeasance being addressed by law enforcement agencies.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
