VISAKHAPATNAM: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Saurabh Prasad, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of East Coast Railway’s Waltair Division in Visakhapatnam, along with two private firm proprietors in a bribery case on Sunday. Prasad, a 1991-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME), was apprehended in Mumbai while accepting a bribe of ₹25 lakh. The bribe was allegedly meant to reduce penalties imposed on a private firm for delays and underperformance in contracts awarded by East Coast Railway.
Investigations revealed that penalties were imposed on a private company due to delays in contract execution, and bills amounting to ₹3.17 crore were pending. To resolve this, the proprietors of firms from Mumbai and Pune approached the DRM, who demanded ₹25 lakh to slash the penalties and facilitate the clearance of the bills. Following the DRM’s intervention, the penalties were reduced, and the bills were cleared. The CBI caught Prasad red-handed while receiving the bribe during his visit to Mumbai.
Searches conducted at Prasad’s residence in Visakhapatnam and other locations uncovered substantial evidence. The CBI recovered ₹87.6 lakh in cash, jewellery worth ₹72 lakh, property documents, and incriminating financial records, including details of investments in a flat in Kalyan. Foreign currency and locker keys were also seized during the raids, indicating a larger financial nexus.
The CBI has registered a case against the DRM and the two proprietors for criminal conspiracy and corruption. They have been charged with misuse of official position and accepting undue advantages. The investigation is ongoing to uncover additional details and identify any other individuals involved in the bribery and corruption scandal.
