LUCKNOW, Feb. 22 -- The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested five persons, including a senior official of Bhubaneswar-based Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS), in connection with an alleged bribery and criminal conspiracy case. The case is linked to the awarding of a Rs.11.81-crore construction contract in Odisha. Officials confirmed the arrests on Saturday. CBI officials informed that the arrested accused include Pankaj Dubey, project manager, WAPCOS, Bhubaneswar; Rahul Verma; Shubham Kumar Pal; contractor Shri Bablu Singh Yadav; and Rajesh Kumar Singh. The action follows the registration of an FIR on Friday alleging a structured kickback mechanism for securing government contracts and facilitating the clearance of bills. According to the FIR, Dubey, in conspiracy with other accused and associates, allegedly demanded illegal gratification ranging from 4% to 6% of the tender value to ensure award of contracts. An additional 4% was allegedly sought for issuance of the Letter of Award (LOA), and 3% of the bill value for processing and passing contractors' bills - effectively amounting to a 13% kickback structure. The case pertains to the construction of a tamarind processing unit at Raigada in Odisha, floated by WAPCOS, a government of India enterprise engaged in consultancy and infrastructure execution. The contract, valued at Rs.11,81,43,285, was awarded on January 13, 2026, to a firm owned by Bablu Singh Yadav. Investigators alleged that part of the bribe amount was routed through Hawala channels. An advance component was reportedly arranged in Varanasi, while subsequent payments were allegedly coordinated through intermediaries based in Ghazipur and Lucknow. The FIR states that Rs.25 lakh was arranged and transmitted through associates for onward delivery as part of the alleged remaining bribe component. The agency is examining financial transactions, digital communications, and asset acquisitions to establish the complete money trail....