Patna: In a major crackdown on corruption within the East Central Railway, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested four individuals, including two senior section engineers, in connection with the large-scale theft and illegal sale of railway iron. The officials are accused of siphoning off iron worth lakhs of rupees and selling it as scrap to earn black money.
The CBI team from Patna conducted raids late Thursday night at multiple locations, including Hajipur and Dehri-On-Sone, and remained engaged in investigations through the night. The arrested officials have been identified as Senior Section Engineer Sanjay Kumar from Hajipur (Sonpur Division) and Senior Section Engineer Raj Kumar from Dehri-On-Sone (Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Division). A truck loaded with iron was also seized during the operation.
A railway store in Dehri-On-Sone was being used as a hub for the misappropriation. Guard Vinod Kumar, who was posted at the store, was also taken into custody. Preliminary investigation has pointed to the negligence of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), as the iron was allegedly being sold without proper authorization or oversight from the security wing.
Money Trail and Modus Operandi
According to sources, the senior engineers were routing the illicit proceeds through the bank account of a private individual. From there, the funds were laundered and redirected to their own accounts. In several instances, the CBI has found evidence of cash transactions as well. A transformer was allegedly purchased through this illegal channel.
The CBI team raided Dehri-On-Sone around midnight and transported Raj Kumar to Patna for further interrogation. The store guard and other staff are also under the scanner.
Retired Officials Under Scrutiny
The investigation has also unearthed the involvement of two retired senior section engineers, Anil Singh and Choubey, who are accused of stealing and selling railway iron during their tenure. Anil Singh, a resident of Sasaram now living in Gurgaon, is expected to be questioned soon.
Choubey, who retired in January 2025, and his driver Annu Kumar are also under investigation. Annu Kumar allegedly received payments in his account and transferred the money to Choubey’s account.
Sale of New Railway Line as Scrap
In a shocking revelation, the accused are also charged with cutting new railway tracks into pieces using gas cutters and selling them in the scrap market. The seized truck found in Dehri-On-Sone had registration numbers from both Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, and its ownership is currently being verified.
The CBI suspects that similar illegal activities may be linked to the construction department of the railways in Mahendru. A separate probe into that division is expected to begin shortly.
Meanwhile, the interrogation of the arrested officials is ongoing. More arrests and wider investigations across departments are likely as the CBI deepens its probe into what appears to be a well-organized network of corruption within the Indian Railways.
