CBI arrests BRO assistant engineer, 2 labour agents for fund ‘misappropriation’ in Ladakh

New Delhi, Jul 7 (PTI) The CBI has arrested a Border Roads Organisation assistant engineer and two labour supply agents from Kargil in connection with alleged misappropriation of BRO funds in Ladakh, officials said on Tuesday. The case was registered based on complaints lodged by the Ministry of Defence, they said. The arrested assistant engineer (civil), who was posted as officer in-charge in the Khatse Batalik sector, allegedly conspired with the two manpower supply agents to siphon off funds by showing payments to non-existent labourers, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said in a statement. “The assistant engineer, in conspiracy with the two manpower supply agents, misappropriated the funds of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the name of non-existent labourers, and the amounts were deposited into his account by the agents,” the statement said. The arrests came a day after the agency registered four FIRs in connection with alleged misappropriation of funds in various BRO projects in Ladakh and carried out searches at 26 locations, it said. The CBI also conducted a search in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh. According to the agency, the cases were registered on complaints lodged by the Ministry of Defence alleging criminal misconduct and bribery by public servants under the Prevention of Corruption Act, besides offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust and forgery. The arrested accused will be produced before the jurisdictional court in Ladakh after completion of the required legal formalities, the agency said. PTI MHS ARI