CBI Arrests BRO Engineer, Two Agents in Ladakh Fund Misappropriation Case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) assistant engineer and two labour supply agents from Kargil in connection with an alleged fund misappropriation case involving BRO projects in Ladakh. The agency said the arrests were made as part of its investigation into suspected corruption and financial irregularities in the execution of infrastructure works in the region.

According to the CBI, the case was registered following complaints filed by the Ministry of Defence , which alleged criminal misconduct and bribery by public servants. The arrested assistant engineer (civil), who was serving as the officer in charge of the Khatse-Batalik sector , is accused of conspiring with the two manpower supply agents to siphon off BRO funds by generating payments in the names of non-existent labourers .

The agency alleged that the fraudulent payments were routed through the labour supply agents, who subsequently transferred the funds into the engineer's account. The alleged scheme enabled the accused to misappropriate public money earmarked for labour payments on BRO projects.

The arrests came a day after the CBI registered four FIRs related to the alleged misappropriation of funds across multiple BRO projects in Ladakh and conducted searches at 26 locations in Ladakh and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh as part of the investigation.

The cases have been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act , along with charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust and forgery. The CBI said the accused will be produced before the jurisdictional court in Ladakh after completion of the required legal formalities.

The investigation forms part of a broader probe into alleged financial irregularities in BRO projects, with authorities seeking to establish the extent of the fraud and identify any additional individuals involved. The Border Roads Organisation plays a critical role in constructing and maintaining strategic border infrastructure , making transparency and accountability in its projects a key priority.