New Delhi, July 1: In a major breakthrough in its ongoing anti-corruption campaign, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer on central deputation in connection with an alleged ₹3 crore bribery case linked to an investigation into a fake drug manufacturing racket.
The arrested officer has been identified as Deepak Gahlawat, a 2012-batch Haryana cadre IPS officer, who was serving as the Regional Director of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) at the time of the alleged offence.
According to CBI officials, Gahlawat allegedly sought a bribe of ₹3 crore from a Puducherry-based businessman by claiming he could influence officials investigating the counterfeit drug manufacturing case and secure favourable treatment in the probe.
As part of the investigation, the CBI carried out simultaneous searches at premises linked to the accused officer. During the raids, investigators seized digital devices, hard disks and several important documents believed to contain crucial evidence related to the case.
The case originates from an FIR registered by the CBI on June 8 against Inspector Pradeep Kumar Singh, alleged middleman Rajkumar and businessman N. Raja. During a trap operation conducted the same day, the agency arrested Inspector Singh, Rajkumar and five other accused persons.
During the operation, CBI officials recovered ₹25 lakh as trap money along with an additional ₹90 lakh in cash and several incriminating documents.
Investigators said that evidence collected during the probe indicated that the IPS officer had allegedly demanded the bribe while assuring the businessman that he could use his personal influence to facilitate relief in the fake drug investigation.
According to the agency, businessman N. Raja, who was facing investigation in the counterfeit drug case, had approached Inspector Pradeep Kumar Singh seeking assistance. Singh allegedly arranged a meeting between Raja and the IPS officer at the latter’s office in Aerocity, New Delhi, where Gahlawat allegedly demanded ₹3 crore, including an advance payment of ₹1.5 crore, in exchange for ensuring a favourable outcome in the investigation.
The CBI further alleged that Raja arranged ₹1 crore through a hawala network and handed it over to Inspector Singh. Of this amount, ₹50 lakh was allegedly passed on to another intermediary identified as Prabhat, while Inspector Singh allegedly retained ₹25 lakh in his office.
The interrogation of the previously arrested accused and subsequent investigation reportedly led investigators to the alleged involvement of the senior IPS officer, culminating in his arrest on Wednesday.
The CBI said the investigation is continuing and efforts are underway to identify and examine the possible involvement of other individuals connected to the alleged bribery and influence-peddling network. (KNC)
