Bhubaneswar: A special CBI court today reserved the order on the bail hearing of Bridge and Roof Company (India) Limited GM Chanchal Mukherjee, contractors Santosh Moharana and Debadutta Mohapatra who were arrested by the CBI in a bribery case.
“We argued that there’s no justification for them to remain behind bars for a relatively small amount of Rs 10 lakh. We also argued that notice should not be served under Section 35 in Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. There’s no sufficient reason for them to stay in jail anymore. The court heard our arguments and concluded the hearing. The court has reserved its order. Now, it’s up to the court to decide whether it will accept our arguments. The order is expected to be announced in a few days,” said defence lawyer Jasobant Dash.
Apart from Mukherjee, the CBI had arrested contractors Santosh Moharana and Debadutta Mohapatra after catching them red-handed taking a bribe of Rs 10 lakh inside a car near a star hotel in Bhubaneswar on December 7.
The central probe agency had conducted a trap operation after registering a case against four persons including the three arrested accused.
According to the CBI, the accused were allegedly indulging in corrupt and illegal activities in the matter of awarding work orders of the PSU and clearing bills in lieu of undue advantage in the form of bribes.
It was alleged that accused Moharana met the group general manager (Mukherjee) at his Bhubaneswar office on December 6 during which the GGM demanded Rs 10 lakh and promised to adjust the said amount in future billings, a CBI spokesperson said.
