The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday evening arrested two officials of the Northern Railway’s Lucknow Division for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹3.5 lakh to clear the pension of a retired woman railway employee. The accused were caught red-handed while receiving the first instalment of the bribe, officials said.
Those arrested have been identified as Akshay Srivastava, Assistant Divisional Finance Officer, and Akash Tyagi, a cashier posted in the same division. The arrests followed a complaint alleging that the two officials had demanded illegal gratification for processing the pension papers of Rani Gautam, a retired railway employee.
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According to the CBI, the accused officials demanded ₹3.5 lakh from the complainant’s family, claiming that the pension would not be approved without payment. After negotiations, it was allegedly decided that the bribe would be paid in instalments, beginning with ₹70,000.
On Tuesday evening, Rani Gautam reached the railway office to hand over the first instalment as instructed. As soon as the cash was exchanged, CBI officials, who had laid a trap following due verification of the complaint, apprehended cashier Akash Tyagi on the spot. Shortly thereafter, Assistant Divisional Finance Officer Akshay Srivastava was also taken into custody.
The case came to light after Abhishek Singh, a resident of Chhitwapur, approached the CBI with a complaint on behalf of his aunt, Rani Gautam. In his complaint, Singh stated that Gautam had retired from the Railways some time ago and was awaiting approval of her pension. Despite repeated follow-ups, the process was allegedly delayed, following which the two officials demanded money to clear the file.
CBI officials said the complaint was verified discreetly before a trap was laid. A team was constituted to catch the accused while accepting the bribe. The operation was carried out on Tuesday evening, leading to the arrests.
Following the trap, another CBI team conducted searches at the residences of both accused. Raids were carried out late into the night, during which family members were questioned and several documents were examined. Officials said relevant papers and records were seized during the searches and would be scrutinised as part of the investigation.
Meanwhile, both accused were taken to the CBI office, where they were questioned for several hours. Investigators are examining their role in the alleged demand, the manner in which pension files were handled, and whether similar demands were made from other employees or pensioners.
CBI sources said the case highlights the vulnerability of retired employees, particularly elderly pensioners, who often face procedural delays and are forced to depend on officials for the release of their dues. Demanding bribes at such a stage, officials said, amounts to exploitation of individuals who rely on pension for financial security after retirement.
The agency is also looking into whether the accused acted independently or if there was a wider network involved in delaying pension clearances to extract bribes. Officials said call records, financial transactions and office files are being analysed to ascertain the full extent of the alleged misconduct.
The arrests come amid renewed focus on corruption cases involving public servants, especially in departments dealing with salaries, pensions and retirement benefits. Investigators said strict action would be taken if evidence points to systematic wrongdoing.
The accused are expected to be produced before a competent court after completion of preliminary questioning. Further investigation in the case is ongoing.
CBI officials reiterated their appeal to the public to report instances of corruption without fear, stating that timely complaints help prevent harassment of citizens and ensure accountability within public institutions.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
