CBI arrests Chandigarh ASI for ₹50,000 bribe demand over accident vehicle
Synopsis
A Chandigarh Police ASI was caught red-handed accepting a ₹40,000 bribe — down from an initial demand of ₹50,000 — to release a vehicle seized after a road accident. In a separate case the same week, a Kalka Railway clerk was booked for demanding ₹14,000 to release a retired employee's legitimate pension arrears. Both cases expose how routine bureaucratic procedures are weaponised for petty graft.
Key Takeaways
CBI arrested ASI Hitesh Kumar of Police Station Sector-39, Chandigarh on 7 June for demanding a bribe of ₹50,000 to release a vehicle seized after a road accident.
Kumar was caught red-handed accepting ₹40,000 — a negotiated amount — in a CBI trap laid on 6 June .
CBI conducted searches at Kumar's premises to check for assets disproportionate to his known income.
In a separate case, railway clerk Rajneesh at Kalka Railway Station was booked for demanding ₹14,000 to release ₹74,000 in arrears owed to retired employee Sunder .
The Kalka complaint was verified by CBI ACB Chandigarh on 1 June ; recorded conversations corroborated the bribe demand.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 7 June arrested a Chandigarh Police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) for allegedly demanding a bribe of ₹50,000 from the owner of a vehicle seized following a road accident. The accused, Hitesh Kumar, was posted at Police Station Sector-39, Chandigarh, and was caught red-handed in a CBI trap laid on 6 June.
How the Bribery Scheme Unfolded
According to the CBI, the complainant alleged that ASI Hitesh Kumar demanded ₹50,000 to release his confiscated vehicle and promised that no criminal case would be registered against him in connection with the road accident. After negotiations, Kumar reportedly agreed to accept a reduced amount of ₹40,000.
The CBI registered a formal case on Saturday following the complaint and set a trap the same day. Kumar was apprehended while allegedly accepting the illegal gratification of ₹40,000 from the complainant.
Searches and Asset Check
Following the arrest, the CBI conducted searches at the premises of the accused ASI to determine whether his assets were disproportionate to his known sources of income. The findings of those searches have not yet been made public.
Second Case: Railway Clerk Booked at Kalka Station
In a separate case, the CBI booked a railway clerk identified as Rajneesh, posted at Kalka Railway Station, for allegedly demanding a bribe of ₹14,000 from the family of a retired railway employee. The family was seeking release of arrears amounting to ₹74,000 owed to retired employee Sunder.
His son, Himanshu Singh, approached the CBI's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in Chandigarh, which verified the complaint on 1 June. Recorded conversations obtained during verification reportedly revealed that Rajneesh demanded ₹10,000 for releasing the TLA arrears and refused to lower the bribe amount.
Pattern of Graft in the Region
The twin cases highlight a recurring pattern of low-level corruption within public institutions in the Chandigarh region. This is not an isolated incident — the CBI's Anti-Corruption Branch has registered multiple trap cases in the tricity area in recent months, targeting government employees who allegedly exploit procedural delays to extract payments from citizens. Notably, both cases involve individuals leveraging their official positions to withhold legitimate entitlements — a vehicle release and a pension arrear — until a bribe was paid.
The CBI is expected to file charge sheets in both cases following the completion of searches and further investigation.
Point of View
000 and ₹14,000 are small — but the pattern: citizens are forced to pay to receive what is already legally theirs. The CBI's trap mechanism works, but it is reactive and complaint-driven. Systemic fixes — digitised vehicle release, automated arrear disbursement — would remove the human chokepoints that enable this graft in the first place.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Chandigarh ASI Hitesh Kumar arrested by the CBI?
ASI Hitesh Kumar was arrested by the CBI for allegedly demanding a bribe of ₹50,000 from a vehicle owner whose car was seized after a road accident. He was caught accepting ₹40,000 — a negotiated amount — in a CBI trap on 6 June at Police Station Sector-39, Chandigarh.
What was the bribe demanded by the Kalka Railway clerk?
Railway clerk Rajneesh, posted at Kalka Railway Station, was booked for allegedly demanding ₹14,000 from the family of retired employee Sunder to release his TLA arrears of ₹74,000. Recorded conversations verified by CBI ACB Chandigarh on 1 June corroborated the demand.
What action has the CBI taken after the arrests?
After arresting ASI Hitesh Kumar, the CBI conducted searches at his premises to check for disproportionate assets. In the railway clerk case, the complaint was verified and a formal case registered. Charge sheets are expected following completion of investigation.
Who approached the CBI in the railway clerk bribery case?
Himanshu Singh, son of retired railway employee Sunder, approached the CBI after the family was allegedly asked to pay ₹14,000 to secure the release of ₹74,000 in legitimate arrears. The CBI's Anti-Corruption Branch in Chandigarh verified the complaint on 1 June.
Is this the first such CBI trap case in Chandigarh?
No. The CBI's Anti-Corruption Branch has registered multiple trap cases in the Chandigarh tricity area in recent months, targeting government employees who allegedly exploit procedural delays to extract payments. These two cases are part of a broader pattern of low-level corruption in the region.
