Detailed Investigative Report: CBI Uncovers High-Profile IRCTC Catering Bribery Racket
MUMBAI: The Anti-Corruption Branch of the Central Bureau of Investigation (#CBI) in Mumbai has formally registered a major criminal case, uncovering a #bribery and illegal #gratification network within the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (#IRCTC) West Zone. The prosecution targets a senior IRCTC executive, a Kolkata-based private catering firm director, and a local facilitator who executed illicit ATM cash transactions to expedite pending bill clearances for luxury Tejas Express trains.
The formal First Information Report (#FIR), registered under case no. RC0262026A0016 on July 22, 2026, details habitual acts of corruption, bribery, criminal conspiracy, and corrupt influence-peddling. The prosecution invokes Section 61(2) of The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with Sections 7, 7-A, 8, and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. The primary accused named in the case include Tridib Banerjee, Senior Executive at IRCTC West Zone, Mumbai; Amar Thakkar, Director of M/s Araha Hospitality Private Limited, Kolkata; and Deepak Parmar, a Mumbai resident who acted as the financial conduit.
Operational Mechanics and Tender Background
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation serves as the national agency managing on-board passenger catering across Indian Railways, operating train pantry cars, managing base kitchens for food quality oversight, and providing e-catering facilities. In November 2025, IRCTC awarded M/s Araha Hospitality Private Limited the commercial contract for providing on-board catering and allied services on two premium routes: the Ahmedabad–Mumbai Tejas Express and the Lucknow–New Delhi Tejas Express. Under the operating terms of these premium trains, meal charges are included in the ticket fare paid by passengers and subsequently claimed back by the #catering-vendor through periodic bill submissions to IRCTC against statutory license fees.
The First Bribery Sequence: April 2026
According to investigative findings detailed in the FIR, private contractor Amar Thakkar visited the IRCTC West Zone Office in Forbes Building, Fort, Mumbai, between April 15 and April 20, 2026, to clear pending bills of his firm. On April 16, Senior Executive Tridib Banerjee contacted Thakkar and directed him to manage the company’s pending bills and ensure they were forwarded from the IRCTC Ahmedabad Regional Office to the Mumbai West Zone Office by the next day, promising to clear them for payment. After Thakkar confirmed the transfer of the bills, Banerjee demanded a bribe in exchange for passing the claims, to which Thakkar agreed.
On April 17, 2026, Banerjee notified Thakkar that the Group General Manager (#GGM) of IRCTC West Zone Office had cleared the pending bills. To execute the illicit payment, Thakkar requested his acquaintance in Mumbai, Deepak Parmar, on April 19 to pay ₹2,00,000 (two lakh) to Banerjee. On April 21, 2026, Banerjee transmitted his personal Punjab National Bank account details to Parmar, instructing him to deposit physical cash via an automated teller machine (#ATM). On the same day, Parmar deposited a total of ₹1,98,500 into Banerjee’s bank account (Account No. 9867009900000244) across four separate ATM transactions and confirmed receipt with Banerjee.
Second Bribery Cycle: June 2026
The CBI’s source information revealed a repeated pattern of corruption during the following month. On June 1, 2026, Amar Thakkar visited the IRCTC West Zone Office in Mumbai to submit another batch of commercial bills for payment clearance. Banerjee assured him of clearance and asked him to return the following day. On June 2, 2026, Thakkar attended the office, and Banerjee assisted him in clearing the bills. On June 3, 2026, Banerjee demanded a kickback for the undue favor provided. Thakkar assured him that Parmar would deliver the money.
Banerjee repeatedly followed up with Thakkar and Parmar on June 4 and June 5, 2026, demanding payment. On June 6, 2026, Thakkar directed Parmar to pay ₹2,00,000 to Banerjee and informed Banerjee accordingly. On June 7, Banerjee requested Parmar to deposit the sum into his bank account. On June 8, 2026, Parmar deposited ₹2,00,000 in cash into Banerjee’s Punjab National Bank account through four distinct ATM transactions.
Statutory Sanction and Ongoing Investigation
Prior approval to investigate the senior official under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) was formally granted by Director of Catering Services, IRCTC Corporate Office, New Delhi, on July 15, 2026.
Superintendent of Police B. B. Chakravarty of the CBI ACB Mumbai ordered the formal registration of the Regular Case on July 22, 2026. The case investigation has been officially entrusted to Police Inspector R. D. Meena, who will lead probes into broader illegal acts and identify any other public servants or private individuals involved in the racket.
According to a former IRCTC official, Senior Executive Tridib Banerjee, who was caught by the CBI on bribery charges, has been very close to the current Director of Tourism & Marketing (#DTM) and acting #CMD of IRCTC. He also stated that many such individuals close to him in IRCTC are involved in similar illegal activities and enjoy the full patronage of the DTM. Contd.
References
- Central Bureau of Investigation, Anti-Corruption Branch, Mumbai — First Information Report RC0262026A0016 dated July 22, 2026.
- Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. — Statutory Sanction Order DP/No. SI/02/2026/CBI, ACB, Mumbai/123 dated July 15, 2026.
- Internal Gmail Query Reference: [gmail search query: CBI FIR RC0262026A0016 IRCTC West Zone Tridib Banerjee Araha Hospitality]