MoD scandal: Army officer, wife caught in ₹2.36 crore bribery sting

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested an Army officer posted in the Ministry of Defense on serious bribery charges. Lieutenant Colonel Deepak Kumar Sharma, posted in the Production Department, is accused of accepting a bribe of ₹3 lakh from a private company in Bengaluru.

During the CBI action, Rs 2.36 crore in cash and several incriminating documents were recovered from his Delhi residence. A case has also been registered against his wife Colonel Kajal Bali in the matter. During the search, Rs 10 lakh in cash was also seized from their residence in Sriganganagar (Rajasthan). Colonel Kajal Bali is currently posted as Commanding Officer in Division Ordnance Unit (DOU), Sriganganagar. Middleman Vinod Kumar has also been arrested in this bribery case. The court has sent all three accused to CBI custody till December 23.

Conspiracy to favour private companies in defence deals

According to the CBI, Lt. Col. Sharma is accused of conspiring to provide illegal favours to private companies involved in the manufacture and export of defence products. The investigating agency received information about a possible bribe payment by a Bengaluru-based company, following which a case was registered on December 19. The investigation revealed that two individuals, Rajiv Yadav and Ravjeet Singh, were handling the company's India-based affairs and were in constant touch with Sharma. Their aim was to secure illegal favours for the company from various ministries and government departments.

The CBI claims that Vinod Kumar, at the company's behest, paid Sharma a bribe of ₹3 lakh on December 18th, prompting the action. According to the agency, the company in question operates out of Dubai, while its operations in India were handled by Rajiv Yadav and Ravjeet Singh.

Raids across the country, cash and documents seized

Following a tip-off, the CBI conducted simultaneous raids at several locations, including Delhi, Sriganganagar, Bengaluru, and Jammu. ₹2.23 crore in cash, bribe money, and other incriminating material were recovered from his Delhi residence. Searches are also underway at his wife's home and office in Sriganganagar. The CBI produced all the accused before a court on December 20, where they were remanded to custody. The investigation into the case is ongoing, and the agency expects further revelations.