Assam PWD engineer caught taking Rs 40,000 bribe from contractor

Tinsukia: An executive engineer with the public works department’s (PWD) electrical division was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting bribe by the directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption branch (ACB) from Tezpur in Assam’s Sonitpur district on Friday noon.

The accused, Narayan Chandra Dey, had demanded Rs 40,000 from an electrical contractor for approving bills.

According to a source in ACB, based on a complaint of bribery demand by a public servant, a team of ACB led by superintendent of police Sumit Sharma laid a trap and arrested the accused executive engineer which accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000 in cash. “The money has been seized from the possession of the accused by the ACB team,” the source said.

“The accused had demanded an amount of Rs 50,000 for approving bills regarding electrical work done by the contractor at executive engineer PWD’s office in Tezpur, Dhekiajuli PHC and Biswanath Chariali Civil Hospital in Sonitpur district,” the source said, adding that the complainant was to pay the amount on Friday.

A case was registered at the ACB police station (case nunber 02/2020) under section 7(a) of PC Act (as amended in 2018).

Talking to EastMojo, ADGP of directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption Anurag Tankha said: “We are receiving complaints of demand for illegal gratification by some public servants from various departments for clearance of bills as the financial year is coming to a close.”

“We urge and request all the citizens to report such instances to the directorate in a secretive manner so that the corrupt can be booked,” Tankha added.

Citizens can reach at 0361-2462294, 0361-2462295, 94350 19737, 18003453767 (toll free) to share information and lodge complaints.

Another source told EastMojo that the accused will be forwarded to the special court in Guwahati on Saturday. “House search of the accused is being conducted in Guwahati and Tezpur,” he added.

In the last few months, the ACB has received several complaints of demanding of bribe by public servants and already few officers have been arrested from various districts of the state.

Meanwhile, in the ongoing search operations at the residence of the arrested accused Dey at Kalapahaar in Guwahati, the police team recovered cash amount of Rs 18.46 lakh from the almirah in presence of his wife. “The amount has been seized,” a source in ACB told EastMojo.