In a significant crackdown on corruption within defence establishments, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a serving Indian Army officer and a civilian middleman in an alleged bribery case linked to defence clearances. The Defence Ministry stated this action underscores the government's firm policy of 'Zero Tolerance Against Corruption'.
The Arrests and Allegations
The premier investigative agency apprehended Lieutenant Colonel Deepak Kumar Sharma, who was serving as deputy planning officer in the Department of Defence Production, and a private individual named Vinod Kumar on Saturday. The CBI alleges the duo acted as 'conduits' for delivering bribes.
According to the agency, Lt Col Sharma was 'habitually engaging' in corrupt practices, accepting bribes from private defence firms in exchange for undue favours related to defence clearances. The officer was reportedly in contact with representatives of a Dubai-based defence company, identified as Rajiv Yadav and Ravjit Singh, who managed its Indian operations from Bengaluru.
Massive Cash Haul Recovered
Following the arrests, the CBI conducted coordinated searches at multiple locations across Delhi, Sri Ganganagar, Bengaluru, and Jammu. The raids yielded a massive recovery of unexplained cash.
Investigators seized a staggering Rs 2.23 crore in cash from Lt Col Sharma's residence in Delhi. In a related search at the Sri Ganganagar residence of Colonel Kajal Bali—Lt Col Sharma's wife and a serving army officer—the agency recovered an additional Rs 10 lakh. The total seizure stands at Rs 2.33 crore.
The First Information Report (FIR) details that on December 18, the alleged middleman, Vinod Kumar, delivered a bribe of Rs 3 lakh to Sharma on behalf of the company.
Government's Stance and Ongoing Probe
A senior Defence Ministry official, commenting on the development, told ANI that the arrest demonstrates the government's proactive approach to curbing corruption through legal and institutional channels. 'The present action has been taken in line with the Government of India’s stated policy of 'Zero Tolerance Against Corruption,'' the official stated.
The arrested officer and the middleman were produced before a court on Saturday and have been remanded to police custody until December 23. The CBI has confirmed that further investigation is underway, with additional aspects of the case being examined. The FIR also names several unidentified individuals and the Dubai-based company.
This high-profile case brings the issue of integrity in defence procurements and clearances back into sharp focus, testing the mechanisms in place to ensure transparency.
