CBI arrests 2 railway officials in Rs 34k bribe case; caught red-handed in UP; contractor alleges demand for 2% commission

LUCKNOW: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two officials of Northern Railways — an Assistant Divisional Engineer and a Trackman posted at Chandausi in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 34,000 from a railway contractor.According to an official, the accused have been identified as Sanjeev Saxena, Assistant Divisional Engineer, and Akash, Trackman. They were caught red-handed by the CBI while accepting the bribe on the night of 4 July.The arrest was made after the CBI registered a case based on a complaint from a railway contractor. The complainant had been awarded a tender for railway track fitting work by the Moradabad Division of Northern Railways on 19 January 2024.In his complaint, the contractor alleged that Saxena demanded a 2% commission on the clearance of pending bills worth Rs 17.57 lakh, amounting to Rs 34,000. The CBI laid a trap and arrested both officials during the bribe transaction.Following preliminary questioning, both men were formally arrested on the morning of 5 July. They are expected to be produced before the Special CBI Court No. 1 in Ghaziabad later in the day.A CBI spokesperson said further investigation is underway.