The CBI has arrested the Executive Director and Regional Officer of the NHIDCL (National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited), M Riten Kumar Singh, in Guwahati for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh. Subsequently, Rs 2.62 crore in cash was allegedly seized from his residence, the CBI said.
According to a statement from the CBI, it registered a case based on “source information” against the official and two representatives of a private company. It stated that on October 14, it laid a “trap” for the official and caught him allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh to issue an extension of time and a completion certificate for work against a contract on National Highway 37.
“CBI laid a trap on October 14 and caught the accused Executive Director and one private person while the public servant was accepting bribe of Rs 10 lakh from the private person for issuance of favourable extension of time (EOT) and Completion Certificate of the work performed by the private company pertaining to the contract of 4-laning of National Highway-37 between Demow to End of Moran Bypass besides other contracts in the State of Assam,” says the statement.
Following the arrest, the CBI stated that searches and investigations led to the recovery of Rs 2.62 crore in cash from his residential premises and information about the acquisition of multiple properties in different parts of India.
“Searches were conducted at seven office and residential premises of the accused persons at different locations all over India. During the searches at the premises of the accused public servant, cash of Rs 2.62 crore has been seized. Further investigation revealed acquisition of properties, that is nine landed properties and 20 apartments all over India in the name of public servant and his family members. Moreover, documents pertaining to the purchase of high-end vehicles in the name of the public servant have also been recovered. Further verification of the immovable/movable properties of the accused public servant is in progress,” it stated.
