In Delhi, PWD engineer Kaluram Meena was caught by the CBI taking a bribe of ₹30,000. Raids in Jaipur and Delhi revealed ₹1.60 crore in cash, property documents, and bank account information. The investigation is ongoing.
CBI Raid: In a major anti-corruption operation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Kaluram Meena, an Executive Engineer working in the Public Works Department (PWD) in Delhi, while taking a bribe. Meena is accused of demanding a 3 percent commission from a contractor to pass bills. The CBI team laid a trap and caught him red-handed. Subsequently, raids were conducted at his locations in Delhi and Jaipur, resulting in the recovery of ₹1.60 crore in cash, several bank accounts, and property-related documents.
Action Initiated Following Bribery Complaint
The entire operation began with a complaint from a contractor who alleged that PWD engineer Kaluram Meena was demanding a commission to pass his bills. The contractor stated that Meena demanded a bribe of ₹30,000 and refused to pass the bills without the payment. When the CBI received this information, they investigated the complaint, verified the facts, and then laid a trap as planned. As soon as the victim contractor handed over the ₹30,000 to the engineer, the CBI team arrested him red-handed on the spot.
Important Clues Found in Raids in Delhi and Jaipur
Immediately after the arrest of Kaluram Meena, the CBI launched swift raids on his residences and offices in Delhi and Jaipur. During these raids, the team recovered ₹1.60 crore in cash, information about several bank accounts, and documents of valuable properties. CBI officials stated that during the raids, documents of several properties in prime locations in Jaipur were found, the market value of which is estimated to be in crores. Additionally, documents related to some shell companies and suspicious transactions were also found, which are currently under investigation.
Corruption During Posting in Court Complex
The arrested engineer, Kaluram Meena, was currently working in PWD, Judiciary Civil Division-2 and was overseeing the construction work of the Rouse Avenue District Court Complex. This is a sensitive project where the court building was being constructed. Taking bribes by an engineer posted on such an important government project not only raises questions about the transparency of the system but also shows how corrupt officials make public welfare works a means of their own earnings.
CBI Investigation May Reveal More Names
According to CBI officials, the documents and bank details recovered from Meena indicate that he had been involved in this corruption game for a long time, and it is possible that some other officers or contractors may also be partners in this. Officials believe that after interrogation and examination of the documents in the coming days, some more names may be revealed. It is also being investigated where Meena has invested his illegal earnings.
What does the CBI say?
While providing information to the media, the CBI spokesperson said, "We have taken this action based on solid evidence. Preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused engineer had been collecting bribes from contractors for a long time in the name of passing bills. The properties found with him are many times more than his income. Further revelations are possible in the further investigation."
Public Outcry, Questions on Officials
After this revelation, questions have been raised on the credibility of the Public Works Department. The general public and social activists say that corrupt officials sitting in government departments are the biggest obstacle in the progress of the country. People's anger has also erupted on social media regarding this matter and CBI is expected to take action by catching all the culprits.
