TV
In a major development in the high-profile bribe case, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Bishnupada Sethi is likely to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi.
If sources are to be believed, the central probing agency has issued another letter to Sethi asking him to appear in Delhi.
Earlier on December 10, the CBI had summoned Sethi to appear at its Bhubaneswar office on December 11 to join the investigation. However, the bureaucrat sought more time through his lawyers.
In a letter to the IAS officer, CBI inspector Gurjinder Singh on December 10 said, “It is learnt that you are acquainted with some important and relevant facts and circumstances of the instant CBI case, which are required to be ascertained from you.”
As the officer did not turn up on the date, the agency asked the state government to provide a list and details of all drivers who worked under the IAS officer in the last six years.
The investigating agency’s move is linked to the ongoing inquiry into a bribery case involving Chanchal Mukherjee, group general manager, Bridge and Roof Construction Company Ltd, Bhubaneswar and others.
Earlier on Saturday, two drivers of the IAS officer appeared before the CBI at its Bhubaneswar office and recorded their statements. The drivers were present inside the CBI office for about three hours.
Moreover, GM of Bridge & Roof Company BK Singh is being questioned by CBI sleuths.
Earlier, CBI had arrested Chanchal Mukherjee GGM of B&RCIL, director of M/s Penta A Studio Private Limited Santosh Moharana and middleman Debadutta Mohapatra in connection with the case.
Read More: Tender fixing in Odisha: CBI intensifies probe in Rs 10 Lakh bribery scandal
Meanwhile, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said that whoever is found guilty, exemplary action would be taken against them as the BJP government has zero tolerance towards corruption.
“From the beginning, we have been saying that our government has zero tolerance towards any kind of corruption. No matter who the person may be, a politician, or an officer or a peon, whosoever is involved in corrupt practices, necessary action will be taken against them,” Harichandan said.
