Muzaffarpur/Barauni: A fraud amounting to Rs 2.62 crore has been unearthed in connection with maintenance work at two key railway depots in Bihar, with a private agency accused of raising inflated bills while misusing government resources. The alleged scam came to light during a joint investigation conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Patna, and the Railway Vigilance Department.
The depots in question—located at Narayanpur Anant in Muzaffarpur and Gadhara in Barauni—are tasked with conducting mandatory brake power certification and maintenance of goods trains every 10 to 12 days. This includes inspection and repairs of various components before the trains re-enter service.
Although the Railway’s role was limited to providing electricity and line siding facilities, the private agency involved—reportedly based in Ranchi—was found to be extensively using railway personnel and materials in contravention of the agreement terms. Investigators found that the agency submitted arbitrary and inflated bills totalling Rs 2.62 crore, effectively charging the railways for work done using railway-owned assets.
What has raised further concern is the complicity or negligence of depot officials, who, despite being aware of these irregularities, failed to impose any penalties or corrective action on the agency.
A formal FIR has been lodged by the CBI, and the investigation is ongoing. Sources said more layers of the fraud may emerge as scrutiny of bills, work records, and communication between depot officials and the agency continues.
