Overview
- The CBI arrested NHAI Shillong Project Director Aanand Singh Chouhan and two private individuals identified as Punit Agarwal and Manish Agarwal after a corruption case was registered by the agency.
- The case was opened from a complaint by Mohd. Matlebuddin Ahmed of Purvanchal Buildtech and the CBI says it verified the allegation in the presence of independent witnesses before acting.
- Acting on the verified complaint, the CBI laid a trap that caught a private person accepting an alleged advance of Rs 4 lakh, part of a Rs 12 lakh demand to process a pending Rs 13.38 crore bill.
- Searches were carried out at the premises of all three accused and the CBI says further investigation will determine charges and any wider involvement of officials or intermediaries.
- The operation, reported by multiple outlets as occurring on Monday, July 6, highlights the risk of bribery in large public-works bill processing and could lead to prosecution or administrative action depending on the probe's findings.