PATNA – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), Patna, has registered a criminal case against a Senior Section Engineer (SSE) of the East Central Railway and a Jharkhand-based private firm for allegedly defrauding the national carrier of over ₹42 lakh through a maintenance scam.
The Investigation: From Surprise Check to FIR
The registration of the FIR follows a detailed Preliminary Enquiry conducted by the CBI. The investigation was triggered by a Joint Surprise Check carried out on April 28, 2025, at the Carriage & Wagon (C&W) Units at the Narayanpur Anant (NRPA) Depot in Muzaffarpur, Bihar.
Following the check, SI Siya Ram Meena of the CBI ACB Patna identified significant discrepancies in the maintenance contracts awarded for the Sonpur Division.
The Alleged Scam: Inflated Bills and Ghost Work
According to the CBI, a contract valued at approximately ₹3.27 crore was awarded to M/s. Krishna Ram, a firm based in Ramgarh, Jharkhand. The contract involved various technical activities for goods trains, including:
- Welding and door repairs/replacements.
- EM Pad and Adaptor changes.
- Maintenance work at the Narayanpur Anant and Garhara freight depots.
The investigation alleges that Nirmal Kumar, the then-Senior Section Engineer (Mechanical) at Narayanpur Anant, entered into a criminal conspiracy with the contractor. It is claimed that Kumar allowed the firm to raise inflated bills that far exceeded the actual work performed, supported by fraudulent entries in official registers.
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Between November 2023 and January 2025, the contractor claimed bills totaling ₹98,25,454. The CBI estimates that this resulted in a wrongful loss of approximately ₹42,32,392 to the Railways.
Misuse of Government Resources
The FIR also highlights several other irregularities:
- Unauthorized Machinery Use: The contractor allegedly used Railway-owned machinery for the work, which was a direct violation of the contract agreement.
- Waiver of Penalties: Despite clear shortcomings in the execution of the contract, the Railway official allegedly failed to impose mandatory penalties on the firm.
Accused and Legal Charges
The CBI has officially booked the following parties:
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- Nirmal Kumar: Senior Section Engineer, C&W Mechanical, Narayanpur Anant (EC Railway).
- M/s. Krishna Ram: Represented by its partner, Krishna Ram.
- Unknown Public Servants and Private Persons.
The accused face charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018)
The investigation has been formally entrusted to Inspector Sanjeeb Kumar of the CBI ACB Patna. Copies of the FIR have been forwarded to the Special Judge for CBI Cases in Patna and the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of the East Central Railway in Hajipur
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