CBI Books Chandigarh Architect in NHAI Petrol Pump NOC Bribery Case; Project Director Under Investigation

Shimla: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Anti-Corruption Branch, Shimla, has registered a Regular Case (RC 0962026 A 0001) under Section 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in July 2018) against Ms. Seema Rajpal, a private Consultant/Architect and proprietor of Design Craft, Chandigarh.

The case involves an alleged demand of ₹10 lakh as illegal gratification (bribe) for facilitating the issuance of a Final NOC/access permission from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for a petrol pump in Himachal Pradesh.

Complainant’s Allegations

According to the FIR, the complaint was filed on February 9, 2026, by Shri Ishan Dhingra (also spelled Ishaan Dhingra), proprietor of M/s JS Filling Station, located near Nagni Mata on the Pathankot-Mandi Road at Village Mohal Ban, Tehsil Nurpur, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. He resides at Ward No. 2, Mohalla Rampuri, Tehsil Nurpur, Kangra.

Shri Dhingra stated that he was allotted a petrol pump dealership by Nayara Energy Limited in December 2020, with a Letter of Intent (LOI) issued on December 19, 2020. To operationalize the pump, NOCs from multiple departments, including a critical Final NOC from NHAI, were required. Provisional NOCs had been issued by NHAI earlier (June 29, 2021, and July 1, 2023).

The complainant alleged that on May 3, 2025, he received a letter from Shri Vikas Surjewala, Project Director, NHAI, Palampur, directing him to apply for the Final NOC. During a subsequent meeting at the NHAI office in Palampur, Shri Vikas Surjewala allegedly directed the complainant and his father, Shri Hansraj Dhingra, to route the application through Ms. Seema Rajpal, a private Consultant/Architect based in Chandigarh (Office: 3495, 40-D, Chandigarh; Residence: 6202, Sector 121, Mohali, Punjab).

The application was submitted through Ms. Seema on May 20, 2025. However, in January 2026, Shri Vikas Surjewala, along with Shri Tushar, Deputy Manager, NHAI Palampur, visited the petrol pump site. They allegedly declared the earlier provisional NOC cancelled, ordered the pump shut down, threatened to stop fuel supply, and had land excavated up to 28 meters in front of the pump. Shri Vikas Surjewala is alleged to have demanded ₹10 lakh as bribe for granting the Final NOC/access permission and directed the complainant to coordinate further with Ms. Seema Rajpal.

On February 3, 2026, Ms. Seema Rajpal reportedly called the complainant’s father and asked him to visit the NHAI Palampur office on February 4, 2026. During the meeting (attended by the complainant’s father, brother-in-law Shri Rakesh Kumar, Nayara Energy Sales Manager Shri Navneet Sachdeva, and Ms. Seema), Ms. Seema allegedly confirmed that she had spoken to Shri Vikas Surjewala and demanded that ₹10 lakh be arranged for re-applying and processing the Final NOC file. Shri Vikas Surjewala later met Shri Rakesh Kumar separately and reiterated the same demand.

The complainant explicitly stated that he does not wish to pay the bribe and requested legal action against the persons involved.

CBI Verification Confirms Demand

The CBI conducted discreet verification of the complaint through Inspector Sushil of ACB Shimla. During verification, Ms. Seema Rajpal allegedly demanded ₹10 lakh as bribe/undue advantage and agreed to accept a part payment of ₹5,00,000 from the complainant and his brother-in-law on March 6, 2026, to secure the Final NOC from Shri Vikas Surjewala for smooth operation of the petrol pump.

The verification report dated March 6, 2026, along with the original complaint dated February 9, 2026, forms part of the FIR.

CBI Action
The FIR, registered at 12:45 PM on March 6, 2026, at CBI ACB Shimla (Entry No. 04), prima facie discloses the commission of an offence punishable under Section 7A of the PC Act by Ms. Seema Rajpal. A regular case has been registered, and the investigation has been entrusted to Shri Sunit Kumar Pal, Additional Superintendent of Police, CBI, ACB, Shimla.

The role of Shri Vikas Surjewala, Project Director, NHAI Palampur, is also being examined during the course of the investigation. The FIR has been forwarded to the competent court. There was no delay in registering the case. The place of occurrence is Palampur, Himachal Pradesh (approximately 210 km north-west of the CBI ACB Shimla office).

This case highlights alleged nexus between a private consultant and public officials in delaying and monetizing essential clearances for infrastructure projects in Himachal Pradesh. The CBI has not made any arrests so far. Further updates are awaited as the investigation progresses.