In a significant operation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Chaitanya Kumar, a Flight Lieutenant and Station Logistic Officer at the Air Force Station in Suryalanka, Bapatla district, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹50,000. The arrest was carried out by the Visakhapatnam branch of the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Bureau on Sunday.
Bribe Demanded for Bill Settlement and Future Contracts
According to the CBI, the officer demanded the bribe from a supplier to settle pending bills related to materials supplied to the Air Force Station. The matter came to light when the supplier, unwilling to meet the officer’s demand, approached the CBI with a complaint.
The complainant revealed that in November 2024, Chaitanya Kumar had requested a quote for 200 mattresses needed at the Air Force Station through the government e-Marketplace (GEM) platform. The supplier quoted ₹2,499 per mattress, totaling ₹4,99,800. Following the supply, the payment was credited to the complainant’s account on November 30, 2024.
However, after the payment was processed, the accused officer allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹40,000 for approving future contracts. Additionally, the complainant supplied two Ahuja amplifiers worth ₹42,000 and provided crane and trailer services amounting to ₹23,364. The bills for these services were not cleared, and the officer allegedly demanded an extra ₹10,000, making the total bribe demand ₹50,000. The officer also threatened to block the supplier’s future contracts if the bribe was not paid.
CBI Launches Trap Operation
Based on the complaint, the CBI registered a case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018). Acting swiftly, the sleuths conducted a trap operation and caught Chaitanya Kumar red-handed while accepting the bribe from the complainant.
The CBI has taken the accused into custody for further investigation. This case highlights the agency’s ongoing efforts to curb corruption within government institutions and ensure accountability.
More details regarding the case and subsequent legal actions are awaited.
