Shimla: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Anti-Corruption Branch in Shimla has registered an FIR against a project director of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and a Chandigarh-based architect for allegedly demanding a bribe of ₹10 lakh.
The case was registered following a complaint filed by a petrol pump owner from Nurpur in Kangra district. The complainant alleged that the bribe was demanded in exchange for issuing a final No Objection Certificate (NOC) to connect the fuel station with the national highway.
According to the complaint filed with the CBI, Ishan Dhingra, owner of JS Filling Station in Nurpur, alleged that NHAI Palampur Project Director Vikas Surjewala asked him to contact Chandigarh-based architect Seema Rajpal regarding the matter.
The complainant claimed that during an inspection in January 2026, the official allegedly threatened to shut down the petrol pump and demanded ₹10 lakh in exchange for granting access permission from the highway.
During a meeting held at the Palampur office on February 4, 2026, the architect allegedly informed the complainant that she had already spoken with the project director and that arrangements for ₹10 lakh would have to be made to get the work done.
In its preliminary inquiry, the CBI found that an agreement had allegedly been reached on March 6, 2026, to accept the first installment of ₹5 lakh as part of the bribe.
The complainant also alleged that pressure was created by digging up about 28 metres of land in front of the petrol pump and threatening to disrupt fuel supply.
The CBI has registered the case under Section 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended in 2018) and initiated an investigation. The probe has been assigned to Additional SP Suneet Kumar Pal.
