MUMBAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested two Central Railway officials, including the station director at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), in a Rs 10,000 bribery case on Saturday.
Besides CSMT station director G S Joshi, the other arrest was of an official named Babu. The CBI said that a case was registered against the accused following allegations of demanding a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a toilet contractor.
The contractor said he was asked to pay the sum in exchange for the authorities allowing him to operate his contract without any problems. The CBI laid a trap and caught Babu, whose full name was not immediately available, while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from the complainant on the alleged directions of station director Joshi.
Searches were conducted at the premises of the accused. The arrested accused will be produced before the competent court.
Sources said that the complainant used to operate a pay-and-use toilet at CSMT. The complainant alleged that the station officials were demanding bribes even though there was hardly any footfall, and so hardly any earning, at the station because of the suspension of train services during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sources said that there were several complaints in the past too against Joshi.
“One of the allegations that he faced in the past was of inaction against unauthorised vendors,” an official said, requesting anonymity.
It is the duty of the station director to ensure passenger amenities are in good shape, from booking windows to the punctuality and general hygiene of the trains. The directors are also in-charge of passenger grievances and are responsible for their prompt redressal. Catering and vending stalls at the station are also under the director’s jurisdiction.
