BSNL official in CBI net for taking bribe

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) general manager Rajesh Bansal late night on Friday in Bharatpur for accepting ₹1 lakh bribe from a contractor.

A CBI team from Jaipur, led by additional superintendent of police of CBI K Bhattacharya, arrested Bansal from his residence when he was accepting the bribe from Sukhvir Singh, a contractor, for passing bills related to completion of a contract of ₹1.25 crore.

The probe agency also arrested retired junior account officer of BSNL Madan Lal Bansal, who acted as a mediator for Bansal.

“I got a tender from BSNL for installing optical fibre cable under Digital India initiative. I installed it in Nagar and Pahari block and I submitted a ₹60 lakh bill. Bansal was demanding a two percent (of ₹60 Lakh) bribe to pass the bill. But I refused to pay due to my poor financial condition,” Singh said.

“I met CBI Jaipur superintendent of police MS Khan on March 30 and complained against the GM. Bansal called me late on Thursday evening to pay the bribe and the CBI team nabbed him when I went to pay,” Singh said.

CBI is investigating the case and has come to know that Bansal owns assets worth ₹1.50 crore and has not been able to tell their source.

“We conducted a raid after receiving a written complaint against the general manager. We are investigating Bansal and will go through others tenders that were approved by him,” said Bhattacharyya.

After initial questioning, they were on Friday placed under arrest on the charge of criminal conspiracy. They were booked under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.