Businessman giving money in the envelope to his partner in the dark – bribery and venality concept
Nagpur: The CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) arrested a Senior Overseer (Civil) of Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) after allegedly catching him red-handed while accepting a Rs 40,000 bribe in Umred on Wednesday.
The accused has been identified as Pawan Nakhate, Senior Overseer (Civil), Gokul Murpar Sub-Area, Umred Area, WCL.
The action followed a complaint lodged by a contractor with the CBI on September 29. The contractor had secured a WCL work order for construction of two borewells and installation of submersible pumps, internal main lines and distribution pipelines for drinking water at the rehabilitation site of Pirwa village.
According to the CBI, Nakhate allegedly demanded money for processing and releasing the contractor’s third bill, valued at Rs 25.35 lakh. The initial demand was reportedly Rs 50,000.
The CBI subsequently verified the complaint on September 29 in the presence of an independent witness. During the verification, Nakhate allegedly demanded Rs 44,000, calculated at around two per cent of the approximately Rs 22 lakh payment. He also allegedly sought another Rs 10,000 that he claimed was pending from an earlier transaction, taking the total demand to Rs 54,000.
Following negotiations, the alleged demand was reduced to Rs 50,000, the CBI said.
After confirming the allegations, the agency registered an FIR against Nakhate under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018.
The CBI then laid a trap on Wednesday. Nakhate allegedly met the complainant near Gangapur Chowk in Umred, where he was caught while accepting Rs 40,000.
Following the trap, Nakhate was arrested by the CBI. Further investigation is in progress.
