Bhubaneswar: A team of eight CBI officials raided the official residence of IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi in Bhubaneswar today, in connection with a bribery case involving Bridge and Roof Company (India) Ltd. Sethi, however, claimed innocence and alleged harassment by the CBI team, stating that they raided his residence without lady officials and local police.
Sethi denied any connection with the company, which has been working with the Odisha government since 2016-17. He also pointed out that the CBI had arrested Chanchal Mukherjee, the group general manager of Bridge and Roof Company, for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 10 lakh.
“They arrived at 7 am in the morning. They forcibly raided my residence. We don’t know why they are raiding my residence. They arrived without any lady officials and were harassing my family members. I would like to clarify that I have no relation with the Bridge and Roof Company. This company has been working with the Odisha government since 2016-17. The company CMD Chanchal Mukherjee had received a bribe of Rs 10 lakh. Instead of raiding his house, the CBI is searching my residence. I was earlier thinking that the matter would be investigated in a transparent manner, as no FIR has been filed against me,” Sethi said.
The IAS officer’s wife also alleged harassment by the CBI officials, claiming that they searched their residence without lady officials. Sethi had earlier been summoned by the CBI as a witness in the bribery investigation, following which he was transferred to a special duty role.
The CBI raid is part of an ongoing investigation into the bribery case involving Bridge and Roof Company (India) Ltd.
