The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Deputy Director-level officer from the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), along with two private individuals, including a Delhi-based advocate. They are accused of demanding Rs 1 crore to influence an ongoing SFIO investigation into the DHFL scam.
The CBI registered a case against the SFIO officer, who was posted in Chennai under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, along with the advocate and others. They were accused of demanding Rs 1 crore from a complainant to influence the SFIO’s investigation into the DHFL case. After checking the complaint and filing an FIR, the agency set up a trap. The arrests were made when the advocate accepted Rs 20 lakh from the complainant as part of the bribe, acting on behalf of the SFIO officer.
Searches of the public servant’s and the advocate’s homes and offices turned up material clearly connected to the case. The investigation is still in progress, with the CBI examining how the demand was made, the advocate’s role as a middleman, and any other potential links.
This case involves the alleged misuse of official power within the SFIO, the agency responsible for investigating complex corporate fraud and serious financial crimes. The DHFL investigation has received significant attention because of the large amount of money involved and the number of parties connected to it.
In this situation, the complainant went to the CBI after being asked for money during the ongoing inquiry.
The trap, where part of the payment was handed over, led to the immediate arrests of the Deputy Director-level officer, the Delhi-based advocate, and the third private individual.
The material found during the searches is expected to be important evidence as the agency pieces together the communications and deals that led to the demand. Officials have not shared more details, such as the exact stage of the SFIO investigation or the complainant’s identity, because the investigation is still ongoing.
These arrests show the CBI’s push to curb corruption in agencies that handle major financial cases. The SFIO, part of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, usually looks into large corporate groups. Claims of bribery in such cases raise questions about the fairness of the process. Here, the CBI checked the complaint, filed the FIR, and caught the accused while they took the Rs 20 lakh payment.
The CBI has three accused in custody and is tracing the money, reviewing digital and paper records, and looking for others who may be involved.
The investigation is ongoing, and the CBI is expected to provide further updates as it reviews the evidence and the Rs 1 crore demand.