New Delhi. The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested former Divisional Railway Manager of East Coast Railway’s Waltair Division, Saurabh Prasad, in connection with an alleged ₹2.19 crore disproportionate assets case. The agency has registered a case against him and alleged that between 2021 and 2024, he acquired assets far exceeding his known legitimate sources of income and could not satisfactorily account for them.
The investigation began in 2024, when the CBI’s Delhi unit registered a case in connection with corruption allegations and conducted searches at Prasad’s residence and other locations. During the searches, officials recovered foreign currencies, including US dollars, euros, Mauritian currency and francs. Gold coins, gold and silver jewellery, and several documents related to income, assets and expenditure were also found.
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As the investigation progressed, the agency carried out a detailed assessment of Saurabh Prasad and his family’s income, assets and expenditure between 2021 and 2024. According to the CBI, the increase in his assets during this period did not correspond with his known legitimate income. The agency has alleged that he accumulated assets worth more than ₹2.19 crore during the period that he could not satisfactorily explain.
According to the financial details compiled during the investigation, Saurabh Prasad’s assets stood at around ₹1.04 crore at the beginning of the period under scrutiny. By the end of the period, they had increased to approximately ₹5.40 crore. His total income during the period was assessed at around ₹3.53 crore, while his expenditure was estimated at approximately ₹1.35 crore.
The CBI’s assessment showed that assets worth around ₹4.36 crore were acquired during the period under investigation. Based on the available income and expenditure, his likely savings were estimated at around ₹2.17 crore. However, after accounting for the relevant financial details, the agency calculated disproportionate assets of ₹2,19,07,575, which it has cited as the basis of the case.
Saurabh Prasad joined the Indian Railways in 1994 as an Assistant Mechanical Engineer. He subsequently held several important positions after receiving promotions. From 2018 to September 2021, he served as Chief Mechanical Engineer with Konkan Railway. He then served as Chief Mechanical Engineer (Planning) with Central Railway from September 2021 to July 2023.
In July 2023, Prasad was appointed Divisional Railway Manager of the Waltair Division of East Coast Railway. He held the position until November 2024. The investigating agency examined his financial affairs for the period from 2021 to 2024, covering his tenure in senior railway positions.
The CBI also examined the financial circumstances of Prasad’s family. His wife, Manjushree Saurabh Prasad, was employed with Tata Steel until July 2023 and subsequently left the job. The investigation also took into account income attributed to house rent and consultancy work in her name. His mother is a homemaker and, according to the agency, was not dependent on him.
The CBI has incorporated documents and other material recovered during the searches into its investigation. The agency is now examining the alleged sources of the disproportionate assets, the acquisition of properties and the financial transactions associated with them.
Following Prasad’s arrest, the investigation is expected to proceed further. The agency is examining how the alleged additional assets were acquired and whether any other individuals or entities played a role in the transactions. Further legal action in the disproportionate assets case will depend on the evidence and findings emerging during the investigation.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
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