Senior Railway Board official arrested by CBI on graft charges

 New Delhi: A senior Railway Board official was caught red-handed on Wednesday by the Central Bureau of Investigation for allegedly receiving Rs.5 lakh in bribe from a tour operator to facilitate special trains and additional coaches for tourists.

Ravi Mohan Sharma, an Indian Railway Traffic Service officer of 1997 batch, was allegedly receiving the bribe amount at his Delhi residence from a Mumbai-based tour operator when he was arrested. According to the CBI, the money was being paid through the hawala channel. The alleged bribe was being given to facilitate running of special trains and additional coaches for the benefit of the accused tour operator, who is also under scrutiny.

The CBI would probe whether the accused officer had amassed wealth disproportionate to his income from known sources.

The agency has also launched investigations into the suspected role of other Railway officials in the conspiracy hatched with tour operators. “There appears to be a larger nexus between some railway officials and tour operators. Further arrests in the case cannot be ruled out,” said a senior CBI official.

Mr.Ravi Mohan Sharma was unavailable for comment on this when contacted.