Guwahati: In a major anti-corruption operation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Maisnam Riten Kumar Singh, Executive Director and Regional Officer of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Guwahati, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹10 lakh from a private contractor in exchange for issuing a favourable project extension and completion certificate.
According to CBI officials, Singh was caught red-handed during a trap operation on Wednesday while receiving the bribe money. The payment was reportedly made to secure an extension and completion clearance for a four-laning project along National Highway-37 in Assam.
The agency also apprehended Binod Kumar Jain, a representative of the contractor firm, who allegedly acted as an intermediary in the transaction.
Following the arrests, the CBI conducted extensive searches at multiple premises linked to Singh, leading to the recovery of ₹2.62 crore in unaccounted cash, as well as documents related to 20 residential flats and 9 plots of land located across various locations. Investigators also seized a large number of property papers, investment records, and other high-value assets, which are being examined to assess the full extent of Singh’s wealth.
Both Singh and Jain were produced before the Special Judge for CBI cases in Guwahati, where the agency sought their remand for further questioning.
Officials said that preliminary findings suggest the possibility of a larger network of corruption within NHIDCL projects, and the probe will now focus on tracing potential kickbacks and irregularities in other highway contracts under Singh’s supervision.
