In what can be seen as a significant crackdown on alleged corruption within Delhi’s civic administration, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a senior official of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in connection with a ₹4 lakh bribery case linked to the licensing department.
The anti graft agency has identified the arrested officer as Lt Col Abhishek Kumar Mishra, who was serving as Deputy Commissioner of Shahdara North in the MCD. According to officials, the action was taken after the CBI received credible inputs regarding a demand for a bribe in exchange for official favours.
A senior CBI official revealed that the agency registered a case based on a complaint alleging that an accounts officer, Divyanshu Gautam, had demanded ₹4 lakh from a License Inspector. The bribe was reportedly sought to facilitate certain approvals and clearances within the department.
Acting swiftly on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap to catch the accused in the act. Both Mishra and Gautam were apprehended red-handed while allegedly accepting the bribe amount. The operation marks yet another instance of the agency’s efforts to tackle corruption in public offices.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the case may have wider ramifications, with officials indicating that more layers of corruption could come to light as the probe progresses. The agency is currently examining documents and other evidence to establish the full extent of the alleged malpractice.
The CBI has stated that further details regarding the case will be released later, as the investigation continues. The arrests have raised serious concerns about integrity and transparency within civic administration, particularly in departments dealing directly with public services and licensing.
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