CBI Traps Three Union Home Ministry Pay and Accounts Officers for Taking ₹48,400 Bribe

In a major anti-corruption crackdown, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in Ranchi successfully trapped and arrested three senior accounting officials stationed at the Regional Pay and Accounts Office in Doranda, Ranchi, while accepting a bribe of ₹48,400. Operating under the Union Home Ministry, this critical regional office manages financial accounts for elite security and investigative agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).CISF Constable Files Corruption ComplaintThe high-profile bribery case unfolded following a formal complaint lodged by a CISF constable posted at the National Thermal Power Station (NTPC) in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The personnel approached the anti-corruption agency after the accused officials allegedly demanded illegal gratification to process and clear his legitimate Travel Allowance (TA) and children's educational allowance bills. Following a swift verification of the allegations, the CBI registered a formal FIR and orchestrated a precision trap at the Doranda office, catching the trio red-handed with the seized bribe money.Accused Officials and Extensive Late-Night CBI RaidsThe arrested individuals have been identified as Senior Account Officer Santosh Kumar Mahato, Assistant Account Officer Sunil Kumar, and Assistant Account Officer Sujit Kumar Singh. Following their arrest, the anti-corruption wing launched coordinated search operations extending late into the night across five distinct properties linked to the accused spanning Ranchi and Dhanbad. Initial search recoveries yielded approximately ₹10 to ₹12 lakh in unaccounted cash, valuable jewelry, multiple land ownership documents, and bank locker details, which are currently undergoing rigorous verification.Comprehensive Ongoing Probe Into Institutional CorruptionThe three apprehended officers are scheduled to be produced before the special CBI court in Ranchi. Meanwhile, federal investigators are expanding the scope of their inquiry to uncover potential complicity among other staff members within the Regional Pay and Accounts office. The agency suspects a wider web of systemic corruption, and further legal actions against prospective co-conspirators will be determined as the ongoing investigation progresses.