CPWD official takes bribe by cheque, lands in CBI net

He demanded Rs. 4 lakh from a Kochi-based construction firm

The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against a top Central Public Works Department (CPWD) official here on charges of accepting a bribe by cheque from a builder. When one of the cheques bounced, the official asked the builder to transfer the money online into his wife’s bank account.

The CBI’s Anti Corruption Branch received information in December 2016 that R. Sampath, Deputy Director-General, Southern Region, CPWD, entered into a criminal conspiracy with M/s Shilpa Projects, Kochi, represented by Srikumar, with respect to a tender related to a CPWD project in Coimbatore.

The official allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs. 4 lakh from the builder. He received two cheques worth Rs. 1 lakh each and deposited them into the account of his wife. After one of the cheques bounced, Mr. Sampath insisted that Rs. 3 lakh be transferred electronically.

The official wanted the firm to account the bribe money as “consultancy charges” in the name of his wife. He insisted that her Permanent Account Number (PAN) be recorded and a proper bill for the consultancy charges be generated. The firm sent the bills by email and SMS to Mr. Sampath and his wife.

The CBI registered a case against the CPWD official, Mr. Srikumar and others under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.