CBI arrests two ED officers in Rs 5 lakh bribery trap

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested two officials of the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) Lucknow Zone after they were allegedly caught demanding and accepting a Rs 5 lakh bribe from the father of a person under ED investigation.

The arrested officials are Enforcement Officer Deepak Kumar and Head Constable Manoj Dwivedi, both posted at the ED’s Lucknow office. The CBI said it registered a case that day following a complaint that Dwivedi had demanded illegal gratification from the complainant’s father in exchange for assisting him in an ongoing ED case. The father had received two summonses from the ED’s Lucknow Zone in August and September 2026.

Acting on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap on October 23. During the operation, Dwivedi was allegedly caught red-handed demanding and accepting Rs 5 lakh on behalf of Enforcement Officer Deepak Kumar. The bribe was allegedly sought in return for extending a favour to the complainant’s father in the ED proceedings. Both officials were subsequently arrested.

The CBI said the investigation is ongoing to establish the full extent of the alleged misconduct and determine whether other officials were involved. The agency’s action followed its standard procedure in corruption cases involving public servants. After verifying a complaint, it lays a trap and arrests the accused if it finds them accepting a bribe.

Officials said the arrests reflect the CBI’s continuing efforts to curb corruption within investigative agencies and promote accountability among public servants.

The CBI is expected to seek their remand for custodial interrogation as part of its ongoing investigation.