Raipur: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Raipur, have arrested former Chief Engineer of the Urban Administration and Development Department (UADD), Bhagirath Verma, in a corruption case involving alleged abuse of official position, illegal gratification, and disproportionate assets.
The ACB and EOW registered a case against Verma on 15 June 2026 under Sections 7 and 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended in 2018).
Investigators alleged that Verma, while serving as Chief Engineer between 2019 and 2023, misused his official position by demanding illegal commissions for awarding tender-related works.
The agency suspects that he amassed substantial assets through illicit means during his tenure.
Officials conducted simultaneous searches at eight locations linked to the accused — six in Raipur and Bilaspur districts of Chhattisgarh and two in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
During the raids, officials recovered documents related to the case, records of properties worth crores of rupees, digital evidence, and other materials considered significant for the investigation.
The ACB-EOW stated that the probe is focused on examining whether the retired public servant possessed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Following evidence indicating his involvement in the offences, Bhagirath Verma (also known as Bhagirathi Verma) was arrested on 17 June 2026. The investigating agency subsequently obtained police remand from 18 June to 27 June 2026.
Officials said Verma’s custodial interrogation is expected to reveal further details regarding the alleged corruption network and financial transactions under scrutiny. The investigation is continuing.
