CBI Arrests Two Senior BSNL Engineers in Bhopal for Allegedly Accepting ₹75,000 Bribe Each
Bhopal, August 27, 2026: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two senior engineers of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Bhopal, in connection with an alleged bribery case involving payments demanded for clearing pending bills of a private firm.
The arrested officials have been identified as the Chief Engineer (Electrical) and the Superintending Engineer (Electrical), both posted at BSNL’s Bhopal office. According to the CBI, the two officers allegedly demanded an illegal payment of ₹2 lakh each from a Jabalpur-based firm in exchange for processing its pending bills.
The firm had reportedly carried out Operation and Comprehensive Maintenance (OCM) work, along with electrical installation-related projects for BSNL. The pending payments were linked to 14 different works executed by the company. The CBI alleged that the officers demanded the bribe to facilitate the clearance and processing of these outstanding bills.
Following the complaint and the allegations, the CBI registered a case against the two officials on August 27, 2026. On the same day, the agency organised a trap operation to catch the accused while accepting the alleged bribe.
During the operation, both officers were reportedly caught red-handed while accepting ₹75,000 each. The amount was allegedly part of the ₹2 lakh bribe demanded individually by each officer. This brought the total amount allegedly accepted during the trap operation to ₹1.5 lakh.
Following the arrests, the CBI launched searches at the residential and office premises of the accused officials in Bhopal, Lucknow and Kanpur. These searches are part of the ongoing investigation, as the agency seeks to gather further evidence related to the alleged bribery and the processing of the firm’s pending bills.
The case highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in public-sector institutions, particularly in matters involving official approvals, contractual work and the release of payments to businesses.
The CBI has stated that the investigation is continuing. Further details may emerge as the agency examines the evidence collected during the trap operation and searches.
News Source: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) – Official Press Release
