The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday arrested seven persons, including two senior officers of the National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC) Limited for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 40 lakh for clearing bills pertaining to the construction of BSF border outposts, officials said on Monday.

The arrested persons include NPCC Zonal Manager Rakesh Mohan Kotwal and NPCC Manager Latiful Pasha along with five others- proprietor of Shree Gautam Construction Company (SGCC) Anish Baid, SGCC director Binod Singhi, SGCC employee Ramesh Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Kotwal's relative and Dharmendra Kumar.

It may be mentioned here that Sunil Kumar, who was allegedly receiving Rs 25 lakh, a part of the payment of the bribe on behalf of Kotwal from Ramesh Kumar in a hotel at the posh Safdarjung Enclave area, was caught red-handed when CBI teams carried out a raid on Sunday.

Others were arrested later on the basis of questioning of the accused and information received by the agency.

It is alleged that Kotwal and Pasha had demanded a bribe of Rs 33 lakh from Baid for passing the bills for construction of Border Security Force (BSF) border outposts done by his firm.