Ranchi: CBI arrests NHAI GM among four in bribery case, seizes Rs 1.18 Cr in cash

Mail News Service

Ranchi, Mar 24: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Delhi, has arrested the General Manager of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Rampreet Paswan, along with three officials of Ram Kripal Construction in a bribery case. The arrests were made in Patna while the NHAI official was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 15 lakh from the private construction firm. Acting on a tip-off, the CBI had been monitoring the situation and confirmed that the NHAI official was set to receive an illegal payment from the construction company. Upon verification, investigators found that representatives from Ram Kripal Construction had coordinated with the NHAI officer to arrange and deliver the bribe.

The exchange of money was planned near the official’s residence in Patna. The CBI team, already stationed at the location, apprehended the individuals as soon as the transaction was completed. The arrested individuals include Rampreet Paswan, General Manager of NHAI Patna; Suresh Mahapatra, General Manager of Ram Kripal Construction; Barun Kumar Singh, an employee of the construction firm; and Chetan Sharma, also associated with the company.

Following the arrests, the CBI launched search operations at various locations linked to the case in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. During these raids, officials seized Rs 1.18 crore in cash. A formal FIR has been registered in connection with the bribery case, naming 12 individuals, including six public servants. The investigation is ongoing as the CBI works to unravel further details of the corruption network.