Delhi court sends army officer, accused of bribery, to five-day CBI custody

New Delhi, May 20 : A Delhi court on Wednesday sent army officer Colonel Himanshu Bali to five days’ custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with a bribery case involving the alleged payment of Rs 50 lakh for manipulating defence tenders and clearing false bills.

The accused, posted with the Army Ordnance Corps in the Eastern Command at Fort William in Kolkata, was produced before the Rouse Avenue Courts following his arrest by the probe agency.

Allowing the CBI’s plea for custodial interrogation, the court sent Colonel Bali to five days’ custody to facilitate further investigation into the alleged corruption case.

According to the FIR registered by the CBI, the accused officer is alleged to have been involved in a larger conspiracy with private individuals and defence contractors to manipulate procurement processes and extend undue favours in exchange for illegal gratification.

The agency has named multiple accused in the case, including Kanpur-based businessman Akshat Agrawal, his father Mayank Agrawal, Delhi-based associate Ashutosh Shukla, and an alleged bribe receiver Naresh Pal, along with other unknown public servants and private persons.

As per the allegations, Colonel Bali is suspected of influencing the issuance of tenders in favour of a private company, approving substandard materials, and facilitating the clearance of pending and inflated bills in return for bribes.

The CBI registered an FIR under charges of criminal conspiracy and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and later arrested the accused officer during its ongoing probe.

The investigation, being supervised by a Deputy Superintendent of Police of the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch-II in New Delhi, is focused on unearthing the alleged nexus between defence personnel and private contractors engaged in alleged corrupt practices within the procurement system. Further probe into the matter is underway.