Jaipur, May 6 : In a major anti-corruption operation, the Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested a Public Works Department (PWD) Executive Engineer along with two contractors while allegedly exchanging a bribe of Rs 4,04,000 in Bhilwara, officials said.

The accused Shahzad Mohammad, posted as Executive Engineer in PWD at Shahpura, was apprehended along with contractors Moduram Dhakad and Banwarilal during a trap operation conducted by the ACB's Bhilwara-I unit, officials added on Tuesday.

The arrests were made at the Collectorate premises while the bribe money was being exchanged.

According to ACB officials, the bribe was allegedly collected from contractors as a quid pro quo for clearing and facilitating payments related to works executed under the department.

Investigators said the amount was intended not only for the Executive Engineer but also for another senior official.

Director General of Police (ACB) Govind Gupta said that the action followed specific intelligence inputs regarding ongoing corrupt practices within the PWD.

Based on these inputs, the ACB placed the suspects under surveillance, which confirmed the alleged irregularities.

Acting on the findings, a trap operation was carried out under the supervision of DIG (ACB Ajmer Range) Narayan Togas.

The operation was led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Paras Mal of the Bhilwara-I unit.

During the raid, officials recovered Rs 4,04,000 in cash from the possession of the accused officer.

he ACB has registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and initiated further investigation.

Searches at the residential and other premises linked to the accused are currently underway to trace additional evidence and assets.

Officials said the accused are being questioned, and further legal action will follow based on the findings.

The operation was conducted under the overall supervision of senior ACB officers, including Additional Director General Smita Srivastava and Inspector General S. Parimala.

The action underscores the ACB's continued crackdown on corruption in government departments across Rajasthan, officials said.

/IANS