Ferozepur: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked two employees of the Divisional Railway Manager's (DRM) office here on charges of criminal conspiracy, obtaining undue advantage as public servants and attempting to influence a public servant through corrupt or illegal means.
The accused have been identified as Dharamvir of the Power Department and Vijay Kumar of the Carriage and Wagon Department. Both have been taken into custody. An FIR has been registered at the CBI Police Station, Chandigarh, under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
According to sources, a CBI team reached Ferozepur on Thursday evening and conducted inquiries before taking both employees along for further questioning. No official statement had been issued by the railway administration till the filing of this report.
The case stems from a complaint filed by senior clerk Pawan Kumar, who alleged that Vijay Kumar, a Technician-I, and Dharamvir, a Senior Section Engineer, demanded a bribe of ₹60,000 in the name of a senior railway official from the Personnel Department. The alleged demand was made in exchange for favourable consideration and settlement of disciplinary proceedings related to three charge sheets issued against the complainant by the Divisional Personnel Officer (DPO).
During the investigation, the CBI reportedly found that when the complainant did not meet the demand, a penalty was imposed on him. The agency further alleged that the accused later repeated the demand of ₹60,000, assuring the complainant that the penalty could be managed or addressed during the appellate stage.
The investigation is ongoing, and the CBI is expected to examine the role of other officials, if any, connected to the alleged bribery network.