The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three people in Puducherry on bribery charges. Those held include the Chief Engineer and Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) and a private contractor.
The arrests took place soon after a bribe of ₹2 lakh was exchanged. The CBI had registered a case against the accused and other unidentified individuals on Saturday.
According to officials, the Executive Engineer demanded ₹6 lakh from the contractor. This bribe was allegedly meant for the Chief Engineer to ensure site clearance and timely payment approvals. The amount represented around 1 per cent of a ₹7.44 crore road contract in Karaikal.
The CBI set a trap on 22 March. The Executive Engineer was caught red-handed while accepting ₹2 lakh in the presence of the Chief Engineer. The bribe money was recovered from him. Officials also found ₹50,000 in the contractor’s vehicle.
Following the arrests, CBI teams raided the homes and offices of the accused in Puducherry and Karaikal. During the searches, officials seized ₹73 lakh in unaccounted cash. This included ₹65 lakh from the Chief Engineer’s residence and ₹8 lakh from the Executive Engineer’s home. Several incriminating documents were also recovered.
The arrested individuals were produced before the Judicial Magistrate I in Karaikal on Sunday. The court remanded them to judicial custody.
The CBI is continuing its investigation to uncover more details. The case highlights corruption in public works contracts and raises concerns over bribery in government departments.
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