CBI arrests NHAI Project Director in ₹12 lakh bribe case, Shillong
Synopsis
A senior NHAI official in Shillong allegedly held a contractor's ₹13.38 crore in legitimate dues hostage, demanding ₹12 lakh in bribes before releasing the payments. The CBI's trap operation caught the money changing hands in Guwahati — exposing a chain of three individuals and raising fresh questions about corruption in India's highway project offices.
Key Takeaways
CBI arrested NHAI Project Director Aanand Singh Chouhan , Shillong, on 6 July in a ₹12 lakh bribery case.
Chouhan allegedly demanded the bribe to process outstanding bills worth ₹13.38 crore owed to contractor Mohd.
Matlebuddin Ahmed of Purvanchal Buildtech .
The CBI registered the case on 1 July and caught a third private individual red-handed accepting ₹4 lakh in Guwahati .
Two other accused — Punit and a third private person — were also arrested; searches conducted at all premises.
In a separate case, the CBI arrested three individuals including Northern Railways official Narender Singh in a tender bribery case; total accused in that case stands at six .
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday, 6 July arrested Aanand Singh Chouhan, Project Director of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Shillong, along with two private individuals, for allegedly demanding a bribe of ₹12 lakh from a contractor in exchange for clearing outstanding bills worth ₹13.38 crore. The arrest followed a formal complaint by Mohd. Matlebuddin Ahmed, Director of Purvanchal Buildtech.
How the Trap Was Laid
According to the CBI, Chouhan allegedly directed Ahmed to pay ₹4 lakh in advance as a precondition for processing the outstanding bills. On 30 June, Chouhan reportedly instructed Ahmed to hand over the bribe money to an associate identified as Punit in Guwahati. Punit, however, did not accept the cash himself and redirected Ahmed to a third private individual.
The CBI registered the case on 1 July against Chouhan, Punit, and others. Ashutosh Singh, Deputy Inspector General, CBI Anti-Corruption Branch, Guwahati, verified Ahmed's complaint in the presence of independent witnesses before the trap was executed. Investigators caught the third private person red-handed while accepting ₹4 lakh from the complainant.
Arrests and Searches
Following the trap, Chouhan, Punit, and the third private individual were all arrested. The CBI subsequently conducted searches at their respective premises, the agency said in an official statement. The case underscores the agency's continued focus on corruption within public infrastructure bodies.
Separate Northern Railways Bribery Case
In an unrelated matter, the CBI also arrested three individuals in connection with a bribery case involving the award of railway tenders under Northern Railways. Those arrested include Narender Singh, Chief Materials Manager (Store), a Senior Clerk posted at the Northern Railways headquarters, and a representative of a private company.
The agency has registered a case against six accused in total, including Deputy Chief Materials Manager Shuvashis Maity, the private company, two of its representatives, and unknown other public servants and private persons. Searches are ongoing.
Context and Significance
The NHAI Shillong case is notably direct in its structure — a senior public official allegedly conditioning the release of legitimately owed contractor payments on a personal bribe. The outstanding bills of ₹13.38 crore represent funds a contractor was already entitled to, making the alleged demand a straightforward abuse of administrative gatekeeping. This comes amid broader CBI scrutiny of infrastructure project offices across India's northeastern region. The agency has increasingly targeted mid-level project directors and materials managers, roles that sit at the critical intersection of public spending and private contractors.
Point of View
Not isolated tip-offs. The real question is whether these arrests translate into systemic process reforms — digitised bill clearances, time-bound approvals, whistleblower protections — or remain headline actions that leave the underlying incentive structure intact.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was NHAI Project Director Aanand Singh Chouhan arrested?
Chouhan was arrested by the CBI on 6 July for allegedly demanding a bribe of ₹12 lakh from contractor Mohd. Matlebuddin Ahmed of Purvanchal Buildtech in exchange for clearing outstanding bills worth ₹13.38 crore. The CBI caught an associate accepting ₹4 lakh in a trap operation in Guwahati.
How did the CBI conduct the trap operation?
CBI DIG Ashutosh Singh verified the contractor's complaint with independent witnesses. Chouhan allegedly directed the contractor to deliver bribe money to an associate named Punit in Guwahati; Punit redirected the payment to a third private person, who was caught red-handed accepting ₹4 lakh.
When was the CBI case registered against Chouhan?
The CBI registered the case on 1 July against Chouhan, Punit, and others, based on the formal complaint filed by the contractor. Arrests followed on 6 July after the trap was successfully executed.
Who else was arrested alongside Chouhan?
Two private individuals — Punit, Chouhan's alleged associate, and a third unnamed private person who physically accepted the bribe money — were arrested along with Chouhan. Searches were carried out at all three accused's premises.
What is the separate Northern Railways bribery case mentioned by the CBI?
In a separate case, the CBI arrested Chief Materials Manager Narender Singh of Northern Railways, a Senior Clerk from the Northern Railways headquarters, and a private company representative in connection with railway tender bribery. The agency has named six accused in total, including Deputy Chief Materials Manager Shuvashis Maity.
