Why Was a PWD Engineer in Delhi Arrested for Accepting a ₹30,000 Bribe?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Corruption in public sectors remains a significant issue.
- CBI’s proactive measures help combat bribery.
- The incident highlights the importance of accountability.
- Public trust can be damaged by such actions.
- Further investigations may reveal more about systemic corruption.
New Delhi, July 29 (NationPress) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) apprehended an engineer from the Public Works Department (PWD) of Delhi for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 to facilitate the clearance of contractor bills, as stated by an official on Tuesday.
Kalu Ram Meena, serving as the Executive Engineer at PWD, JCD-2, located at the Rouse Avenue District Court Complex, was taken into custody on Monday, according to the official.
The complainant indicated in their application to the CBI that the Executive Engineer requested a bribe equating to 3 percent of the total bill amounts.
This payment was solicited to expedite the release of funds for pending bills previously submitted by the contractor, as elaborated in a CBI statement.
“Post negotiations, the accused Executive Engineer insisted on receiving Rs 30,000 from the complainant to process his outstanding bills,” the statement detailed.
Following the arrest, the investigation agency executed searches at Meena’s residences in Delhi and Jaipur, resulting in the discovery of Rs 1.60 crore in addition to property documentation and bank accounts with substantial balances.
This arrest mirrors a recent incident involving a railway engineer in Nashik, who was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 from a vendor involved in supplying packing materials.
Vijay Chaudhary, the Senior Section Engineer (Quality Check) at the Traction Machine Workshop of Central Railway in Nashik, was detained based on a complaint from a company official who reported that the engineer sought an undue payment of Rs 15,000 for issuing a Quality Check Report for a supply of wooden packing wedges.
Upon receiving the complaint, the CBI set up a sting operation and caught the Senior Section Engineer in the act, as he demanded and accepted the illicit payment from the complainant.