CCL safety officer caught red-handed accepting bribe in Ranchi

THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK

Ranchi, May 14: In a significant move against corruption, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Rajendra Prasad, a Safety Officer at Central Coalfields Limited’s (CCL) Sirka Colliery, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹10,000. The arrest was made following a complaint by Jagdish Prasad, an employee at the colliery, who accused the officer of demanding a bribe to absolve him of certain charges.

Acting on the complaint, the CBI conducted a preliminary investigation, which substantiated the allegations. Subsequently, a team led by CBI officer Tapesh Pachauri, including officers Ajay Kumar Thakur, Kuldeep Kumar, and Ravi Shankar, was formed to apprehend the accused. The team successfully caught Rajendra Prasad in the act of accepting the bribe on May 14. Following the arrest, searches were conducted at his residence to uncover further evidence.

Ongoing Efforts to Curb Corruption in CCL

This incident is part of a broader initiative by the CBI to address corruption within CCL. In April 2024, two officials from the Amrapali Project in Chatra were arrested for demanding a bribe of ₹91,000 to facilitate coal lifting operations. The CBI caught one of the officials accepting a partial bribe of ₹50,000 during a trap operation.

Earlier, in June 2020, the CBI apprehended Prashant Bajpayee, then General Manager of CCL’s Barka Sayal Area, along with his personal assistant, for soliciting a ₹26,000 bribe to approve a ₹13 lakh tender. Both were caught in the act and faced charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

CBI’s Continued Vigilance

These arrests underscore the CBI’s commitment to eradicating corruption within public sector undertakings. The agency continues to monitor and investigate allegations to ensure transparency and accountability in government operations.