MUMBAI, OCTOBER 3: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested an Executive Engineer of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Mumbai, his relative and three others in connection with an alleged bribery case involving the issuance of a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for a proposed real estate project in Mumbai.
According to a CBI press release issued on October 2, the investigating agency registered a case on October 1, 2026, against the Executive Engineer, his relative residing in Pune, the Vice President of a Mumbai-based real estate group and other unidentified persons.
The case concerns allegations that the Executive Engineer demanded an illegal gratification of ₹1 crore, subsequently negotiated down to ₹70 lakh, through his relative for issuing an NOC declaring that CPWD had no claim over a parcel of land at Wadala, Mumbai, where the real estate group intended to undertake a construction project.
CBI TRAP LEADS TO ARRESTS, ₹50 LAKH BRIBE RECOVERED
Acting on the allegations, the CBI laid a trap on October 1 and intercepted the Executive Engineer’s relative while he was carrying ₹50 lakh, allegedly received from the Vice President of the real estate group on behalf of the public servant.
The investigating agency subsequently apprehended the Executive Engineer at Vashi in Navi Mumbai, where he was allegedly waiting to receive the bribe amount.
A manager of the real estate group and a partner of the firm seeking the NOC, both of whom were present during the transaction, were also arrested.
The CBI confirmed that five accused persons were arrested in connection with the case and that the entire alleged bribe amount of ₹50 lakh was recovered.
NOC ALLEGEDLY ISSUED WITHOUT OFFICIAL DISPATCH ENTRY
During the investigation, the CBI allegedly discovered that the NOC had already been issued without any corresponding entry in the official dispatch register.
Investigators alleged that the certificate was issued against the payment of ₹50 lakh, while the remaining ₹20 lakh was scheduled to be paid after one week.
The agency is examining the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the certificate and the alleged financial transactions connected with the case.
ADDITIONAL ₹53.87 LAKH CASH SEIZED DURING MULTIPLE SEARCHES
Following the arrests, CBI teams conducted searches at the premises of the accused and their associates across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Pune.
The searches resulted in the recovery of approximately ₹53.87 lakh in additional cash, apart from the ₹50 lakh allegedly received as a bribe.
Investigators also recovered documents relating to immovable properties and other records considered relevant to the ongoing investigation.
The total cash recovered during the trap operation and subsequent searches amounts to approximately ₹1.04 crore.
FIVE ACCUSED TO FACE SPECIAL CBI COURT; INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
According to the agency’s October 2 statement, all five arrested accused were being produced before the Special Judge for CBI Cases in Mumbai.
The CBI said further investigation was underway to examine the alleged bribery transaction and related circumstances.
The allegations remain subject to judicial determination, and the accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. (KNC)
