Central Bureau of Investigation said that, the railway officials supported the people selling the fake bottled water on trains, and thus seized Rs. 20 crores cash in the raids.

In Delhi and Noida, the CBI team made searches at 13 locations against two former Northern Railways officials and seven private companies.

Speaking on the issue, CBI officials said that the nexus of the companies and officials, were allegedly supplying water other than the Indian Railway's own Rail Neer brand on the trains.     
 
As of now, a case was registered against former Chief Commercial Managers of Northern Railways MS Chalia and Sandeep Silas.  

Mr Silas earlier served as the private secretary of the former two Union ministers Oscar Fernandes and Ambika Soni.

All the accused officials allegedly supported a few of the private companies in supplying the duplicate water on several trains, including Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains.   
 
One of the CBI officials Devpreet Singh said, “Generally, the contractors are supposed to purchase the Rail Neer bottles for Rs. 10.50 from the Indian Rail Catering and Tourism Corporation or IRCTC and sell them at Rs. 15. But the fake water in the bottle, which was supported by the rail officials, do not even cost Rs. 6 per bottle and is being sold at the same Rs. 15. So as per this, upon one bottle, Rs. 9 is being pocketed.”   
 
"The accused officials allegedly did not take any action against the private parties providing catering services in the premium board trains despite repeated requests of IRCTC for non-picking of the allotted quota of Rail Neer by the private caterers,” Mr.  Singh said.

Generally, the people, who travel long distances, would have no other option other than buying these fake bottled water. So to cash the situation, it is unfortunate that, even railway officials are supporting the water scam on the trains.

By Phani Ch