Shillong: Federal agents collared an NHAI project director and two accomplices over a 12-lakh bribe scheme. The CBI moved in after a contractor filed a complaint regarding payment for a massive road project. Officials arrested Aanand Singh Chouhan, the NHAI head in Shillong, alongside Punit Agarwal and Manish Agarwal.
The trouble started when the contractor, Mohd. Matlebuddin Ahmed, asked for his outstanding bill of 13.38 crore to be cleared. Investigators claim Chouhan demanded a 12-lakh kickback to process the paperwork. The pressure grew when Chouhan allegedly ordered a 4-lakh advance payment on June 30.
The bagman shuffle began in Guwahati. Punit Agarwal allegedly directed the contractor to drop the cash with Manish Agarwal. The agency acted fast. Ashutosh Singh, DIG of the CBI ACB Guwahati, set a trap to catch the suspects in the act. They nabbed one person red-handed while he took the 4-lakh installment.
Agents raided the suspects' homes after the arrests. The CBI confirmed, "Further investigation into the matter is under way." The agency is currently scrubbing records to determine the extent of the corruption.
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