NEW DELHI – A Kochi-based chief engineer of the Military EngineeringServices (MES) and five others were arrested by the Central Bureau ofInvestigation (CBI) on Monday. An alleged bribe of Rs 1.21 crore was alsorecovered. The agency has arrested a Rakesh Kumar Garg, Chief Engineer(Naval Works), MES, Naval Base in Kochi along with five others. It carriedout raids at 20 places, including Delhi, Kochi (Kerala), Ajmer (Rajasthan),Kolkata, Hisar and Rohtak (Haryana) at the premises of accused and others.

“During raids, the CBI recovered Rs 3.97 crore and 6 kg gold biscuits.Incriminating documents recovered during the searches are being scrutinisedfor further investigation,” the agency stated.

A case was registered against the Chief Engineer and others for demandingbribe from contractors.

“It was alleged that Garg has been demanding and collecting illegalgratification from the contractors for issuing various civil contracts inNaval Base, Kochi. It was also alleged that the accused was receiving bribeamount through his conduit and others through hawala route and also directpayment by private contractors and their associates,” the agency said.

Garg is a Indian Defence Service Engineers (IDSE) cadre and is alsoassociated with the MES, which looks after infrastructural construction andmaintenance for the Armed Forces.

The case is being probed by the CBI Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in NewDelhi and is assisted by the agency unit in Kochi.