Two city contractors have accused an assistant engineer from H East ward of demanding a bribe to release the deposit amount they had paid while participating in the e-tender process. The engineer has refuted the charges, saying they are baseless.

In a letter to Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, two firms - Matoshree Developers and Babubhai & Co, claimed that Ashish Bhoir, assistant engineer, H East ward asked for a 50 per cent share from the deposit amount. mid-day has a copy of the letters.