Who was arrested in the DJB bribery case?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Feb 11 (NationPress) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended a Delhi Jal Board (DJB) staff member alongside a private individual in a bribery scandal connected to the resolution of an overdue water bill, according to officials on Wednesday.
The individuals arrested have been recognized as Vinod Kumar, a peon-cum-assistant meter reader assigned to Zone-VI, Seelampur, and Nitin Kumar, a private citizen.
The CBI reported that a case was initiated on February 8, following a complaint which claimed that the DJB employee solicited a bribe of Rs 12,000 from the complainant to amend and waive off the outstanding water bill associated with their residence.
The agency revealed that out of the total bribe requested, the accused had already received Rs 5,500 from the complainant on February 3. He then requested the outstanding Rs 6,500 for finalizing the bill's settlement.
Acting on the complaint, the CBI set up a trap on February 9. During this operation, both the DJB employee and the private individual were reportedly caught in the act while demanding and accepting the remaining bribe amount of Rs 6,500 from the complainant.
Both suspects were promptly taken into custody.
Officials mentioned that the private individual's involvement in facilitating the alleged bribery is also under investigation as part of the inquiry.
The CBI indicated that further investigations are ongoing to determine the complete timeline of events and to establish whether any other parties were implicated in this case.
This arrest is significant as the DJB has been under increasing public scrutiny in recent years concerning billing disputes, water supply complaints, and accusations of irregularities.
Officials stated that such measures are intended to promote transparency and accountability in civic service delivery, particularly in departments that directly engage with citizens regarding essential services such as water supply.