CBI arrests NHAI officials, 3 others in graft case

Hyderabad: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) here on Saturday arrested an official of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on charge of demanding and accepting Rs 27 lakh bribe.

According to CBI officials, a case was registered under Section 7 and 8 of Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, and Section 120 B IPC against Gali Sridhar, General Manger (Technical) of National Highways Authority of India Limited, Madurai.

The CBI also arrested Sudhakar Vaduppu, NSS Infrastructure, Hyderabad, and Sai Prasad, Pawan on receipt of reliable information about demand and acceptance of illegal gratification of Rs 27 lakh for clearing the bills of NSS Infrastructure, the official said.

Sridhar demanded Rs 27 lakh on April 17 for clearing the bills pertaining to ongoing work on NH 7 Madurai – Kanyakumari stretch in Tamil Nadu.

On the instructions of Sridhar, the bribe amount, which was given by Sudhakar, was carried by Pawan, an employee of NSS Constructions from Hyderabad and delivered it to Sai Prasad, relative of Sridhar at Kadapa on April 21.

CBI team from Hyderabad trailed Pawan from Hyderabad up to Kadapa and nabbed both of them while exchanging the bribe amount, the officials said.