CBI Detains NHAI GM and Six Others in ₹10 Lakh Bribery Scandal

In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended Purushottam Lal Choudhary, a General Manager with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), on allegations of accepting a bribe amounting to Rs 10 lakh. The arrest took place in Madhya Pradesh's Chattarpur, marking a notable crackdown on corruption within the NHAI. Alongside Choudhary, six other individuals were detained in connection with the bribery case, underscoring the extensive nature of this investigation.

The arrests include NHAI consultant Sharad Verma, resident engineer Prem Kumar Sinha, and four employees from PNC Infratech: Satyanarayana Anguluri, Brijesh Mishra, Anil Jain, and Shubham Jain. These individuals were apprehended on Saturday evening for their involvement in corrupt practices related to the Jhansi-Khajuraho Project, a significant venture awarded by the NHAI to PNC Infratech.

According to officials, the accused were implicated in receiving bribes for several illicit favors. These included the final handing over of the project, issuance of a no objection certificate, and processing of the final bill for the Jhansi-Khajuraho Project. The CBI's investigation revealed that Yogesh Jain and T R Rao, directors of PNC Infratech Limited, were allegedly directing these bribes to NHAI officials to secure favorable outcomes for their project.

The CBI's operation was meticulously planned, leading to Choudhary's capture while he was reportedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from representatives of PNC Infratech. This arrest was part of a broader initiative by the CBI to address corruption within the NHAI, particularly concerning the Jhansi-Khajuraho Project. Following these arrests, extensive searches were conducted across multiple locations including Chattarpur, Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, and Gurugram in Haryana.

This case has shed light on the persistent issue of corruption within key infrastructure projects in India. The involvement of high-ranking officials and consultants in such practices highlights the challenges faced by authorities in ensuring transparency and integrity within public projects. The CBI's actions in this case demonstrate a firm commitment to combating corruption and holding those responsible accountable for their actions.