New Delhi: Disregarding safety standards often lands officials in serious trouble, potentially ruining their careers. In a major operation, the CBI arrested a Deputy Director of the Mining Department in Hyderabad while he was accepting a bribe of ₹2 lakh. The arrested official was taking the money in exchange for preparing a report that would shield the mine owner from liability following an accident.
The CBI got wind of the matter and arrested the officials involved. The case originated in Hyderabad. So far, the CBI has arrested three accused individuals in this bribery case. They include the Deputy Director (Mining) of the DGMS (Directorate General of Mines Safety) Hyderabad-III Region (South Central Zone), a consultant/middleman, and a representative of a private mining firm.
When the accident came to light
An investigation into the matter had been underway for some time. During the probe, it was revealed that a severe incident had occurred on [Date] 2026 at a mine in the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. To ensure the accident investigation went in their favour and to shield the mine owner from liability, representatives of the mining firm contacted the accused Deputy Director (Mining) through a consultant/middleman. It is alleged that the middleman had previously paid an illegal sum of ₹1 lakh to the Deputy Director (Mining) to secure a favourable investigation report.
Bribe offered for a clean chit
A demand of ₹2 lakh was made in exchange for providing a clean chit in the report. The payment was scheduled to be handed over in Ongole on August 17, 2026. This amount was intended to secure a favourable report regarding the fatal accident and to cover alleged quarterly bribe payments linked to the private mining firm and other mines. The CBI had received intelligence regarding this.
CBI investigation ongoing
It is worth noting that the CBI conducted the operation by laying a trap on August 17, 2026. In this case, the Deputy Director was arrested red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹2 lakh from a consultant/middleman in the presence of a representative of a private mining firm.
The bribe amount of ₹2 lakh was recovered during the trap operation. Search operations are being conducted at the premises of the accused located in Ongole, Kadapa, and Hyderabad. Action against more individuals is expected in this matter. The CBI will soon get to the bottom of the case. In any case, despite the efforts of various Indian agencies, officials remain undeterred from accepting bribes.
