SRINAGAR: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested an Assistant Engineer (Civil) of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and two labour supply agents from Kargil in connection with an alleged misappropriation of BRO funds in Ladakh.
According to the CBI, the arrested Assistant Engineer was serving as the Officer In-charge of Khatse Batalik Sector under 81 Road Construction Company (RCC), BRO. The agency alleged that he conspired with the two manpower supply agents to siphon off BRO funds by raising claims in the names of non-existent labourers. The funds were allegedly routed to the engineer’s bank account through the agents.
The arrests follow the registration of four FIRs by the CBI in connection with alleged financial irregularities in various BRO projects in Ladakh. The agency had conducted searches at 26 locations on Monday and carried out an additional search in Himachal Pradesh as part of the ongoing investigation.
The accused are being produced before the jurisdictional court in Ladakh after completion of the required legal formalities, the CBI said.
The cases were registered on complaints filed by the Ministry of Defence, alleging criminal misconduct and bribery by public servants under the Prevention of Corruption Act, along with offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust and forgery under the Indian Penal Code.
The CBI said the investigation is continuing and reiterated its commitment to carrying out a comprehensive and expeditious probe into the alleged misappropriation.
