CBI Arrests Three Senior Western Railway Officials in Vadodara Over Corruption in Departmental Exams

Vadodara : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three senior Western Railway officials and a private individual in connection with a corruption scandal related to railway departmental examinations. The arrests were made following raids conducted at multiple locations, including the Vadodara Divisional Railway Manager’s office, as part of the ongoing investigation into bribery and malpractice within the railway recruitment system.

According to the FIR filed on February 18, the accused individuals include Ankush Wasan, Divisional Personnel Officer (IRPS 2018) of Western Railway, Vadodara; Sanjay Kumar Tiwari, Deputy Chief Commercial Manager at Churchgate, Western Railway, Mumbai; Neeraj Sinha, Deputy Station Superintendent; and Mukesh Meena, a private individual. The investigation revealed that these officials were involved in collecting bribes from candidates appearing for railway departmental exams, offering them favorable selection outcomes in return.

The probe found that on February 13, Ankush Wasan directed Sanjay Kumar Tiwari to identify at least ten candidates willing to pay bribes for securing positions in an upcoming Limited Departmental Examination. Tiwari was also instructed to coordinate with Mukesh Meena, who had already collected money from five candidates. Further evidence indicated that on February 17, after a meeting between Wasan and Tiwari at Tiwari’s residence, Tiwari contacted Rajendra Ladla, the owner of Dhanraj Jewellers in Vadodara, to inquire about purchasing 400 grams of gold in cash without an invoice, to which Ladla agreed.

On the following day, Tiwari met Meena in Anand, Gujarat, where he collected the cash meant for securing the fraudulent selection of five candidates. This development prompted the CBI to conduct raids at the offices and residences of the accused, leading to the arrests. Authorities seized crucial documents and digital evidence during the operation.

The arrested individuals have been booked under Section 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 7 and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The case has raised serious concerns over the transparency of railway recruitment and internal examinations, highlighting the extent of corruption within the system. The CBI is expected to expand its investigation further, with the possibility of more arrests in the coming days.