CBI Nabs ED Deputy Director in Odisha Bribery Scandal

Corruption Charges in Odisha

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has detained a deputy director from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Odisha for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹20 lakh from a businessman based in Bhubaneswar, as reported by officials on Friday.

Chintan Raghuvanshi is accused of soliciting ₹5 crore from Ratikanta Rout, who operates a stone mining business in Dhenkanal, in exchange for providing him with 'relief' in an ongoing ED investigation.

The CBI executed a sting operation after receiving information that Raghuvanshi was set to collect the initial payment from Rout, according to officials.

As per the CBI's First Information Report (FIR), Rout had approached the agency after being summoned for questioning at the ED office in Bhubaneswar back in March. Raghuvanshi allegedly instructed him to meet an individual named Bhaghti to discuss 'relief' in his case.

Bhaghti had reportedly been pressuring Rout via Facetime to pay Raghuvanshi to resolve the issue. On May 27, Bhaghti allegedly met with Rout and claimed that Raghuvanshi demanded ₹5 crore to avoid attaching his hospital assets, prevent his arrest, and settle the case, according to the FIR.

Rout expressed his inability to gather such a substantial amount. Bhaghti then facilitated a conversation with Raghuvanshi, who subsequently lowered the demand to ₹2 crore.

Raghuvanshi, an IRS officer from the 2013 batch specializing in Customs and Indirect Taxes, was reportedly apprehended during the operation and was arrested following an interrogation.