Ranchi, August 27: In a significant crackdown on corruption in Jharkhand, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted simultaneous raids in Ranchi and Dhanbad on Thursday. During the operation, three officers from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) were caught red-handed accepting a bribe of ₹48,000.
The arrested individuals include a Senior Accounts Officer and two Assistant Accounts Officers. According to CBI sources, the accused have been identified as Senior Accounts Officer Santosh Kumar Mahto, and Assistant Accounts Officers Sunil Kumar and Sujit Kumar. They are alleged to have demanded a bribe in exchange for processing a bill payment and related administrative procedures.
The CBI acted on a complaint received regarding the bribery. After verifying the complaint, the agency set a trap to apprehend the suspects. As per the plan, the bribe was exchanged, and the CBI team arrested the officers on the spot upon their acceptance of the ₹48,000.
Following the arrests, separate CBI teams launched a search operation at five residential and official locations linked to the accused in Ranchi and Dhanbad. This operation continued into the evening. Sources indicate that the investigation agency recovered numerous documents and papers related to financial transactions, along with some cash. However, a complete account of the seized materials and their total value will be clarified only after the investigation concludes.
CBI officials have begun examining the recovered documents and other materials. The agency is working to determine whether the arrested officers solicited bribes solely in this instance or if they have been involved in such illegal activities for an extended period. Additionally, there is a possibility of investigating their bank accounts, financial transactions, and property records.
A crucial aspect of the investigation is whether there was an organized method of bribery in the payment of bills and administrative processes. The CBI is also looking into whether other officials or employees in the department were in contact with the arrested officers. Cases have been filed against the three accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and further legal action is underway. Following the CBI’s actions, there is a state of panic within the relevant department.
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