WCL senior overseer held in Umred for taking Rs 40,000 bribe, says CBI

Nagpur: The anti-corruption branch (ACB) of the CBI on Wednesday arrested a senior overseer (civil) of Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) in Umred. He was allegedly caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000.

The accused has been identified as Pawan Nakhate. He is a senior overseer (civil) at WCL's Gokul Murpar sub-area in the Umred area.

The action followed a complaint filed with the CBI on September 29 by a contractor. WCL had given the contractor a work order for drinking water works at the Pirwa village rehabilitation site. The work included constructing two borewells, installing submersible pumps, and laying an internal main line and a distribution pipeline.

According to the CBI, Nakhate demanded money to process and release the contractor's third bill, which was for Rs 25.35 lakh. He is said to have initially demanded Rs 50,000.

On the same day, September 29, the CBI verified the complaint in the presence of an independent witness. Nakhate is alleged to have demanded about two per cent of a payment of roughly Rs 22 lakh, or Rs 44,000. He is also alleged to have demanded a further Rs 10,000, describing it as dues from an earlier transaction, taking the total demand to Rs 54,000.

The CBI said the alleged demand was reduced to Rs 50,000 after bargaining.

After the allegations were verified, the agency registered an FIR against Nakhate under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, which was amended in 2018.

The CBI then laid a trap on Wednesday. Nakhate allegedly met the complainant near Gangapur Chowk in Umred and was caught accepting Rs 40,000.

After he was caught in the trap, the CBI arrested Nakhate. Further investigation into the case is on.