In a major anti-corruption operation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested four individuals, including a General Manager (GM) of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and three private company officials. They were caught immediately after exchanging a bribe of Rs. 15 lakh. The bribe was allegedly given to secure illegal favors in processing and approving payments for contracts and works related to NHAI.
The CBI registered a case on March 22, 2025, against 12 individuals, including six public servants holding high-ranking positions like Chief General Manager and General Manager at NHAI. Also named in the case were representatives from a private company, including two General Managers, a private contractor, and other unknown individuals.
According to the allegations, some NHAI officials, in collusion with the private company’s representatives, were granting undue advantages to the company by speeding up the processing and approval of their bills. In return, they demanded illegal gratification in the form of bribes.
The investigation revealed that one of the private company representatives arranged the bribe money and planned a meeting with the NHAI General Manager near his residence in Patna on March 22, 2025, to deliver the bribe. Acting on this information, the CBI laid a trap.
The trap was successful, and the accused were caught red-handed during the exchange of the bribe. The CBI arrested:
- The NHAI General Manager (who accepted the bribe)
- The General Manager of the private company (who gave the bribe)
- Two other officials from the private company who facilitated the bribe delivery
Following the arrests, the CBI conducted searches at the residential and office premises of the accused in multiple locations, including Patna, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Begusarai, Purnia, Ranchi, and Varanasi. During these searches, the agency recovered approximately Rs. 1.18 crore in cash, along with several incriminating documents and digital devices that could serve as evidence in the case.
The investigation is still underway, and the CBI is working to uncover more details about the bribery network and any other individuals involved.