Parida sought retirement while CBI was planning probe

The CBI’s ‘quiet’ investigation against one of its own officers was not so quiet after all. Om Prakash Parida, the additional superintendent of the agency, under the scanner for allegedly receiving favours in the form of international and domestic air tickets to the tune of R19 lakh, had sought voluntary retirement almost at the same time as when the CBI was planning to register a preliminary enquiry (PE) in the case.

The CBI’s ‘quiet’ investigation against one of its own officers was not so quiet after all. Om Prakash Parida, the additional superintendent of the agency, under the scanner for allegedly receiving favours in the form of international and domestic air tickets to the tune of Rs 19 lakh, had sought voluntary retirement almost at the same time as when the CBI was planning to register a preliminary enquiry (PE) in the case.

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“The timing of seeking voluntary retirement is very curious. His application for voluntary retirement was even forwarded to the ministry of personnel, the administrative ministry of the CBI. The officer may have got a whiff the action being planned against him,” said a source.

A CBI spokesperson confirmed that Parida had sought voluntary retirement, but it had happened before the PE was registered.

Last week, the residences of Parida and two officials of different firms under the CBI scanner were raided. Parida is accused of getting favours in the form of air tickets from Oriental Structural Engineers Private Limited.

Parida had launched a probe against Oriental in connection with a NHAI contract. However, the CBI closed the case early this year due to lack of evidence.