Bhubaneswar, December 18: A special CBI court in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday granted bail to three individuals—Chanchal Mukherjee, General Manager of Bridge and Roof Company (India) Limited, and contractors Santosh Moharana and Debadutta Mohapatra—who were arrested in a bribery case involving Rs 10 lakh.
Defence lawyer Jasobant Dash argued that the amount involved was relatively small and there was no justification for the accused to remain in custody. He also contended that the notice under Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita should not apply. Dash noted that the court heard the arguments and reserved its order, which is expected to be announced in the coming days.
The CBI had arrested the trio on December 7 after catching them red-handed while taking a bribe of Rs 10 lakh inside a car near a hotel in Bhubaneswar. A trap operation was conducted following a case registration against the accused.
The agency alleges that the accused were involved in corrupt activities related to awarding work orders and clearing bills in exchange for bribes. According to the CBI, contractor Moharana met with Mukherjee at his office on December 6, during which the GM demanded the bribe, promising to adjust it in future billings.
