New Delhi, 10-02-2025: In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against Sumeet Khajuria, a senior officer of the Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) and Chief Engineer of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway link project, on charges of bribery and corruption. The case also names Paras Railtech Private Limited and its directors—Rajesh Kumar Jain, Pushp Raj Singh, and Sulabh Rawat—as co-accused in the alleged illicit transactions.
According to officials, the case revolves around allegations that Khajuria and the directors of Paras Railtech Pvt. Ltd. engaged in corrupt practices while clearing pending bills and revising cost estimates for the removal of tunnel muck—an integral aspect of the construction work on the Katra-Dharam section of the ambitious railway link. The project, being executed under the supervision of the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited, has been marred by accusations of bribery and mismanagement.
The FIR filed by the CBI invokes provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act along with sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) pertaining to criminal conspiracy. Investigators believe that undue favors were exchanged between the accused parties to expedite financial approvals and cost revisions, raising concerns over transparency in one of India’s most strategically significant railway projects.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway link is a crucial infrastructure initiative aimed at improving connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir. However, allegations of corruption could cast a shadow over its progress and raise questions about accountability in the execution of such vital projects.
CBI officials have reportedly begun an in-depth probe into the matter, with searches and evidence collection underway. If proven, the allegations could have serious legal consequences for the accused, potentially derailing their careers and further delaying the completion of the rail link.
With the investigation gaining momentum, all eyes are now on the CBI’s next move as it digs deeper into what could be a major case of financial misconduct within a high-profile railway project.