SHILLONG, July 4: The Project Director (PIU) of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Shillong, has been arrested by the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), Guwahati, for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 12 lakh from a contractor.
According to an FIR filed with the Deputy Inspector General of Police, CBI, ACB, Guwahati, Aanand Singh Chauhan allegedly demanded a bribe or undue advantage of Rs 12 lakh from a contractor to process an outstanding bill of Rs 13.38 crore.
Chauhan also allegedly instructed the contractor to pay Rs 4 lakh in advance for processing the outstanding bill.
Further, he allegedly directed the contractor to hand over the bribe money to a person identified as Punit in Guwahati.
The FIR further alleged that the NHAI officer sent an image of a Rs 10 note bearing serial number 74R394426 from his mobile phone to the contractor through WhatsApp, with directions to send the entire bribe amount of Rs 12 lakh to Jaipur through the hawala channel.
He also allegedly provided a contact number and the name ‘Meena’ as the contact person in Jaipur to receive the bribe amount through the hawala channel.
According to media reports, the two accused have been arrested and are on two-day CBI remand to enable the agency to carry out further investigation into the matter.
