From correspondents in Punjab, India, 12:02 AM IST

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Monday arrested an Indian Army colonel from Bathinda cantonment in Punjab for accepting a bribe from a contractor, officials said.

CBI Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mahesh Aggarwal told IANS here that the army officer, P.K. Mohanty, was arrested after a trap was laid by the CBI.

Mohanty was posted with the Military Engineering Services (MES).

The colonel and another officer were collecting Rs.60,000 as bribe for clearing the bills of a roads contractor executing works at Bathinda cantt., one of the biggest cantonments in the country located in south-west Punjab.

CBI officials said that the army officer was being questioned following his arrest. His house, lockers and bank accounts were being searched.

Bathinda cantonment is some 250 km from here.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)